Oh my I absolutely loved this book! As soon as I started it I just knew I was going to love it. The characters were so likeable and I couldn't wait to see how their story ended! I could not put this book down and by the end I was not disappointed. There were no questions left unanswered and the story came together so well!
I have never read any of Ruth Hogan's books before but I am very impressed and will be definitely buying some of her other books. This story is far from my usual choice of crime/thriller books but I am so glad I requested to read this book. I was initially drawn in by the cover but the story of Madame Burova was fantastic! I particularly loved how the book switched between the 70s and the present day.
I have already recommended this book to some of my family and friends! Such a feel good and magical story.
Thank you to Ruth Hogan, NetGalley and John Murray Press Two Roads for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Ruth Hogan has done it again! Her fourth novel is brilliant – I read the whole thing in one sitting.

But first let me tell you how I discovered the writer whose books have become amongst my favourites over the last few years.

I first read The Keeper of Lost Things and instantly fell in love with Eunice and Bomber and the lovely cup of tea. In fact I have read it twice (you miss things the first time – who hasn’t watched The Sixth Sense over and over to look for the clues they missed) which is something I almost never do. Except for The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes, which I have also read twice. I have only read Queenie Malone’s Paradise Hotel once so far, but only because I haven’t had the chance yet for a second go.

I think it is something to do with the richly-drawn characters that make them seem like old friends. And the dogs of course. There have to be dogs. But it’s also the detail, which is why I have to go back, because in desperation to discover what happens next, it’s easy to miss something important or beautiful. It may only be something little, but it’s still worth a second look.

Like with Keeper, Madame Burova is set in two time periods – now and the early 1970s when I was just 20 years old like Imelda. I only visited a holiday camp once; it was the mid-sixties. We went for the day to Butlins in Minehead – my dad wanted to see the wrestling. I thought it was amazing…the camp not the wrestling.

Nowadays we often go to Brighton – my older son’s family live just down the road. The place has its own special buzz, there is nowhere else like it. “The book’s protagonist was inspired in part by the life of Eva Petulengro, a famous clairvoyant and Tarot reader who lived and worked for many years in Brighton, and whose booth can still be seen on the promenade…..Hogan studied for many months with an expert Tarot teacher until she was able to read to a professional standard.”* I’ve walked past the booth many times. I’d never dare go in.

Ruth has said that: “….The cast of characters became my friends and companions, and in all the strange days of lockdown I never once felt alone.” They became my friends and companions, albeit for only 24 hours but I shall miss them as I still miss Eunice, Bomber and Sally Red Shoes amongst others.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

*Quote from The Bookseller website

I loved this book it was so different to what I usually read. It was set in 1970 and I found that very interesting as I remember those times very well. I haven’t read any Ruth Hogan books before and I’m glad I read this one and will read her others. I loved all the quirky characters even the dogs which seemed to have sweet characters of their own. It was a refreshing change from my usual read which made it all the more enjoyable. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

A really great plot with interesting and quirky characters. I have enjoyed all of Ruth's books and Ma d and Burova is no exception. I read it in a couple of days and could not put it down.

🎶Oh I do like to be beside the seaside.....🎶

Brighton 1972 and Imelda Burova Tarot reader Palmist and Clairvoyant is preparing to take over the reins from her Romany mother Shunty-Mae and make the fortune telling booth her home from home. Jeanie Rogers is taking up her very first position of employment as a clerk at the local secretarial college although singing is her passion, listening to the likes of Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. Larkins holiday park has a new manager Marty Mount and auditions are underway for acts to entertain holiday makers in the upcoming summer season. Ruby who works at the park and her Jamaican husband Randall are wishing son Treasure well for his first day at secondary school and Diamond and Jack are setting up for another day in the Tea Leaf cafe serving up tea, toast and bacon butties. Ruth Hogan really knows how to set the scene inviting her readers into what promises to be a magical and mesmerising tale full of entertaining characters of both the human and canine variety. I’ve read and loved this author’s previous three novels and couldn’t wait to dive right in!

Set in 1972/3 and the present the narrative switches effortlessly between the two so we are not only are treated to Imelda’s fascinating life as a clairvoyant, all the holiday park shenanigans and a bittersweet love story but to a present day mystery which may connect London based Billie, to our Brighton based keeper of secrets.Billie’s parents are now both dead, much like her marriage and career and with the sale of the family home comes a confession that will inevitably lead her to crossing paths with Madame Burova, a trusted caretaker of the truth. Imelda’s booth has served as a confessional over the years and she alone might hold the answers to the questions Billie now faces. With writing that reads like a dream Hogan gives you permission to don your rose tinted spectacles, (save for parts of Treasure and Randall’s backstory) as you solve a riddle that’s begging to see the light of day, bringing this lost woman a whole host of new friendships and a place in the world that feels just like home. Tread the pebbles with Madame Burova and Billie, along with Dasha, Star, Mabel and Sparrow, inhale the bracing sea air and raise a glass (of vodka!) in anticipation of reaching a successful and satisfying conclusion.

Reading this novel felt like taking a trip down memory lane to another era where good old fashioned seaside fun was the norm for British holidaymakers. Channelling an end of pier type entertainment cum Hi-De-Hi vibe ( yes I know this came later) this novel is a sheer delight from beginning to end. Since Brighton is my home town I automatically felt I was on the same wavelength as the author with plenty of references to both the locality and the 1970’s. There’s a definite nostalgic atmosphere to the narrative and I couldn’t help taking a backwards glance to my childhood when I didn’t live by the coast and a trip to the seaside was so exciting, beginning with that first glimpse of the sea, my ears assaulted by the sound of the seagulls swooping overhead. Fond memories of ambling along the promenade with my own daughter when she was young resurfaced enabling me to relive many a day spent spinning around on the carousel, playing the amusement arcade machines and sampling everything the pier could offer. Even the scenes set in St Pancras railway station had me yearning for the times spent gossiping with a dear friend, lunching in the Betjeman pub and listening to the piano players before heading back home to this mini city by the sea. I felt as if the author was conversing directly with me reminding me that there are better days to come. Thank you Ruth!

The characterisation in this novel is sublime. I’ve come to expect this author’s characters to veer towards the more quirky side of life and I wasn’t disappointed. There’s a wonderful eclectic array of characters, too many to mention here but who all help create that perfect ambiance of good hearted innocent (ish) humour, friendship, love and loyalty. How this author manages to breathe life into these fictional characters so that they feel as alive and real as the people around me is such an accomplishment and a testament to her powers of imagination. I half expected to take a stroll along the seafront and find Madame Burova waiting to read my cards or witness CI5 Clive messaging with his elastic bands. Without a shadow of a doubt they are my two favourite characters although it feels almost disrespectful to make a choice because every single one of them add their own magic to this storyline, allowing Imelda to bask in the limelight. From wandering hands Marty, piano supremo Charlie Martin, contortionist Sara Jade, walk of death rider and heartbreaker Cillian Byrne and Jeanie’s snobbish friend Vivienne the reader can find joy and laughter, romance and heartache in all these characters lives. I HAD to finish this in one sitting because I couldn’t bear to tear myself away

I’ll probably read somewhere in the region of 200 books this year (if not more!) but I already know this novel and Madame Burova herself has found a special place in my heart that cannot be usurped. If I gaze into my crystal ball I will predict this is THE feel good novel of the year from one of my favourite queens of uplifting fiction. Ruth Hogan deserves to wear her crown with pride. 5 dazzling sunny salty sea laden stars from me! My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an arc of this book. I loved this book, as always with Ruth Hogan’s books the characters were absolutely brilliant and I didn’t want my journey with them to end, definitely recommend.

The perfect book for a gentle escape. Set in both the 1970s and the current day, the story slowly introduces the characters and their histories from when they met in a holiday park in Brighton. I was particularly drawn to the wonderful canine personalities who all add so much to the ambience of the story and I’ll be taking more notice of St. Pancras next time I’m there. Highly recommended!

Madame Burova is enchanting. Ruth Hogan has a true skill for deeply engaging characters (including the amazing canines) who enrich every corner of the story that they unfurl. This is no exception.

Told across two timelines - one in the early 1970s and the present day - we meet Madame Burova as she takes over from her mother in her booth providing palm reading, tarot cards and fortune telling. In the modern timeline a secret has come to the fore and the early timeline tells the story of that secret. We meet an incredible ensemble of friends, entertainers and strays in a book that culminates in a very satisfying conclusion.

I’m not sure I would have jumped into a blurb about clairvoyance if it had come from another author, but having loved all of Ruth Hogan’s previous books, I was thrilled to read this one too.

Thanks to Netgalley, Two Roads, John Murray Press and Hachette for an advanced copy of this gem.

A really beautiful read. Liked how the two time frames interlinked. You admire Madame Burova's strength and courage throughout and really admire her confidentiality. A lot of books that focus on this subject focus on whether or not these people are frauds, but wonderfully this is not the angle and it really works.
A real story of love and loss, identity and a search for the truth.
Possibly found it a teeny bit slow starting but once the two main characters meet I was hooked and couldn't put it down.
Like the background noise of the holiday park going on, the mumblings, the competitive nature etc. I also like how tarot is used. Its not too much but enough to keep the story moving and in part reveal more about minor characters hidden secrets/guilts/truths.
Really really enjoyed this one.

🌟B O O K R E V I E W🌟

Madame Burova - Ruth Hogan

𝑴𝒂𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝑩𝒖𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒂 - 𝑻𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒕 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓, 𝑷𝒂𝒍𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒗𝒐𝒚𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒊𝒇𝒕𝒚 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔.
𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆'𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒂 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒆. 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒖𝒏𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒅. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝑴𝒂𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝑩𝒖𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒂 𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆'𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔, 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇. 𝑩𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕, 𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓, 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒂 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒂 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒈𝒐.
𝑰𝒏 𝑳𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒏, 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒉 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕. 𝑩𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒋𝒐𝒃, 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒈𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏. 𝑫𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒔, 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒂 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒍 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝑴𝒂𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝑩𝒖𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒂'𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒐𝒓.

I absolutely just loved this book! It is wonderfully warm, nostalgic and written with love you can feel it emanating from every page.
I can’t really articulate why I love it so, it reminds me of lying on the lawn under a blue hazy sky, listening to planes yawing overhead and a sense of home, a real story that I felt connected to; both to the characters and the sense of place.

‘𝑶𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒃𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒆𝒚 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒌𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒔. 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒄𝒄𝒖𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒌𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒍𝒚 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒗𝒂𝒓𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓-𝒘𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒂 𝒃𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒎𝒊𝒅𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒔𝒖𝒏.’

The story spans 50 years travelling back and forth between the seventies and now.
Billie travels to Brighton to meet Madame Burova and to try to find out some information about her birth parents, she is given some clues but she is intrigued by Imelda. I loved the interplay between these women, it feels real and they feel loved by the author writing them. The friendships of Billie sound authentic and it also had a tint of hazy 70’s sunny nostalgia to me

‘𝑰𝒎𝒆𝒍𝒅𝒂 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑 𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑩𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆.’

There is seventies sexism, still shocking that is was so all pervading and it was difficult for women to do anything about in a world so ruled by men, it really angered me but I love that fact that they can and do fight back guerilla style!

I loved the characters, they are all so rounded, you feel you would know them if you walked into the Brighton cafe and saw them. I had so many questions reading this story - What of Imelda and Cillian’s relationship? What is the significance of Vivienne, what happens to Jeanie, I want to know more about Treasure? I was intrigued by Henrys part in the story and his connection to Imelda, he is gorgeous and so kind.

I desperately needed to know what happened to them all and who Billie’s parents were. It kept me reading as I’d really connected with these people.

‘𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔, 𝒏𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒚, 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒖𝒍. 𝑰𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔.’

The twist and the heartbreak and then the absolute joy this book brings is just wonderful. This is a great story and will make you feel happy to the bottom of your boots and I defy you not to cry right at the end.

✩✩✩✩✩

[AD-GIFTED]

@ruthmariehogan @johnmurrays #netgalley

Many thanks to Netgalley, Two Roads and Ruth Hogan for my copy. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read Madame Burova. I have read and hugely enjoyed Ruth's three previous books and happily this one did not disappoint. As always the characters were wonderful - quirky but lovable and the plot is beautiful - gentle yet emotionally powerful and also entertaining. These are just the loveliest most uplifting kinds of books. Very highly recommended.

At the heart of this story is a woman looking to find her real parents,having recently found out she was adopted.
This brings her into contact with Madam Burova,who is central to the story,which is told over two timelines,one now,one back in the 70s.

It also brings a whole host of other slightly eccentric and colourful characters,all of whom have a certain charm,and make the story feel like a proper "feel good" book.

Left me with a smile.

Madame Burova- clairvoyant, tarot reader and secret keeper. She will enchant you when reading this book!

Ok, so I'm a sucker for this type of story. The merging character lifestories, the chapters flitting between two timelines (1973 and Now) and most of all the eccentric, kooky characters. I liked every character in this book (even the cold-hearted Vivienne) because of the way Hogan describes them and spins their story. However, The ending wasn't quite what I expected but I can't place my finger on what it was that made me feel slightly disappointed by it.

*After a pause for thinking*

I guessed who Billie's dad was and that wasn't what made me knock off a star for the ending, maybe it's because I wanted more to.come from Billie and Imelda's relationship? Also, I think I wanted to know more of Billie's reaction to actually finding out her parentage as well as Imelda getting closure from Cillian's passing? This would have made it a 5 star for me. Nevertheless, another great book from Ruth Hogan. Solid 4 stars. It's made me want to have my cards read!

I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to read and review this as I'd had my eye on it for a long time! It did not disappoint! Such a memorable story and a great cast of characters. Very well-written and I enjoyed the inter-twining relationships between the characters, especially when all was not at it seemed. The pages literally turned themselves and the author created an unforgettable story that will stay with me forever.

A lovely story which I read over two sittings. Ruth Hogans books always make me smile and Madame Burova was just what I needed in these troubled times. I loved Imelda, she was really interesting with her tarot cards and palmistry. Set over two timelines I think this is probably Ruth Hogans best book yet.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book.

Goodness me! This book has it all – romance, lost love and a mystery – and tackles subjects ranging from racism and unplanned pregnancy to animal cruelty. In fact, it packs so much in, I had to read it twice just to get the multitude of characters and their stories straight in my head.

Linking them all is Madame Imelda Burova – tarot reader, palmist and clairvoyant – who has used her talents to answer the burning questions of Brighton’s residents and holidaymakers since 1972. Now, nearly fifty years later, having decided to retire, she has one final message to pass on. The recipient, Billie, has her world tipped upside down by the news she receives from Madame Burova and, drawn to the enigmatic people and events of 1970s Brighton, starts her search for the truth.

I enjoyed the story all the way through and I did get choked up at the end with the conclusion to Imelda’s own journey, but Imelda was the only character I felt any real warmth towards, as well as perhaps Henry and Treasure. Sadly - and it is a genuine sadness - it felt like the novel didn’t spend enough time with most of the other characters to really develop a connection. I’m afraid I didn’t even warm to Billie all that much, with her bowler hat and metallic Dr. Martens shoes. The camaraderie of the Larkins Holiday Park employees and entertainers did come shining through, however.

In summary, if I were looking into Madame Burova’s crystal ball, I’d see an enjoyable read for an overcast Sunday afternoon in your future if you picked up this book. The cards also suggest a packet of your favourite biscuits and a delicious hot beverage might be forthcoming.

Many thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the eARC on which this review is based.

This was a delightful book which I thoroughly enjoyed. The characters were engaging and the females feisty. You will find yourself cheering them on.

Madame Burova is a heartwarming story set in 1973 and present day. Madame Burova is a tarot reader and clairvoyant based in Brighton who has been entrusted with a secret about an abandoned baby’s heritage. Billie is that abandoned baby who meets Madame Burova at a crossroads in her life: her adopted parents have died, her marriage has ended and she has taken voluntary redundancy from her job. Billie finds a new community of friends in Brighton as she tries to figure out her her birth mother and father are - all whilst Madame Burova deals with the burden of her secret and her memories from the past. This book is a joy to read - the 1970s era of holiday parks and seaside life is drawn so vividly and the community of characters are a delight to read about. There are no real surprises at the end as I had guessed Billie’s birth parents but if you want a feel good read, this is the book for you.

Madame Burova - Tarot Reader, Palmist and Clairvoyant is retiring and leaving her booth on the Brighton seafront after fifty years also the keeper of a few secrets,

Billie has lost her university job, her marriage, and her place in the world when she discovers something that leaves her very identity in question. Determined to find answers, she must follow a trail which might just lead right to Madame Burova's door.

Having read and loved Ruth's other three books, I knew I was in for a treat with Ruth's new novel Madame Burova and it didn't disappoint.

Madame Burova is set over 50 years and keeps flipping back and forth between the past and the present as you follow the two main characters Imelda Burova and Billie and all they go through. Along the way you met more wonderful characters like Treasure and Cillian and of course not forgetting the dogs.

Madame Burova is a brilliant book and Ruth Hogan's writing style sweeps you up. The book is endearing , sad and funny. Also have a tissue on hand cause there was a few times I cried.

I will be telling everyone about the book and buying a few copies for friends and family.

So curl up on your favourite armchair, have a cup of tea (tea leaves of course) and immerse yourself in world and life of Madame Burova.

With thanks to Netgalley and Two roads for allowing me to review this book.

The way Ruth Hogan portrays her characters is fabulous; not always sympathetic, but so real that you care about them. I finished this book yesterday and am still thinking about the story and what happens to the characters after the end. Enthralling story telling; maybe not quite as good as Queenie Malone, but that was exceptional (one of my all time favourites). The only small gripe I had was that (spoiler) Cillian's death was somewhat glossed over. Why would a healthy young man just die? This is a book I will recommend to everyone, it's sad, funny, endearing and very well written.