The Blue Bench by Paul Marinner # Review #Giveaway

I am delighted to introduce you to Paul Marinner's The Blue Bench today.  Set in the twentieth century, this historical fiction covers the period between the two World Wars.

I am also able to offer a great Giveaway of a print copy of the book. (UK only). Details on how to enter are at the foot of this post.

Margate 1920

The Great War is over but Britain is still to find peace and its spirit is not yet mended.

Edward and William have returned from the front as changed men. Together they have survived grotesque horrors and remain haunted by memories of comrades who did not come home. The summer season in Margate is a chance for them to rebuild their lives and reconcile the past.

Evelyn and Catherine are young women ready to live to live life to the full. Their independence has been hard won and, with little knowledge of the cost of their freedom, they are ready to face new challenges side by side.

Can they define their own future and open their hearts to the prospect of finding love?

Will the summer of 1920 be a turning point for these new friends and the country?

My Thoughts

 This is a sombre book, filled with emotion and feeling. Told though the eyes of different characters, it captures the life post Great War and shows you how the repercussions of the War live on. I found this to be an emotional read which could not be rushed.

    I was prompted to try to find out more about the soldiers who were invalided out with terrible facial disfigurements and to find out more about the Blue Benches. I enjoy this period of history and find all aspects of it to be fascinating. In The Blue Bench, you get to see the repercussions of the War through the perspectives of different characters and to appreciate how it has affected them. Interwoven into the story are real life events such as the death of Chamberlain and the burial of the Unknown Soldier. These add to the authenticity of the period descriptions. Full of family, friendship and love, this story transcends the war which begat it.

In short: A long reaching story of love and friendship and the aftermath of war.    

 

About the Author

 Paul grew up in a west London suburb and now lives in Berkshire with his wife and two children. He is passionate about music, sport and, most of all, writing, on which he now concentrates full-time. Paul has written four novels and his primary literary ambition is that you enjoy reading them while he is hard at work on the next one (but still finding time to play drums with Redlands and Rags 2 Riches). 

You can follow Paul here: Facebook   |  Twitter

Book link: Amazon UK

Thanks to Paul Marinner, Bluescale Publishing and Anne Cater of Random Things Tours  for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.  

Catch up with the rest of the tour!

Giveaway (UK only)

To win a copy of The Blue Bench,  just Follow and Retweet the pinned Tweet at @bookslifethings.

 Closing Date 27th May 2019 and there is one winner.

*Terms and Conditions –UK entries only.  The winner will be selected at random via Tweetdraw from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.