Some reviews of my novel
'The Mothers of Tobergell'
Ann Marie Swansea
Characters so beautifully drawn and scenes so well set, I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended
Fiona - Swansea
I was quickly drawn in to the world of The Mothers of Tobergell, and whilst not always comfortable, it was always a fascinating and compelling place to be. The initial high stakes secrecy and cover-up sets the reader on high alert, as they are waiting for the truth to come out one day. The stark reality of life for women in the all too recent past is brought to harrowing life, as well as the joys and thrills of love and family life. The characters feel real, flawed and complete, thanks to masterful depiction, and the reader is left wanting to find out more, about the past and the future, for this family. The setting is realistic and you can almost hear the Irish flute and smell the sea at times during reading the novel. I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
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Anne - Swansea
In Book One of 'The Mothers of Tobergell' Alana Beth Davies tells the fascinating stories of four generations of women, connected not only by blood but through the strength, determination and power of maternal love and sacrifice.
The first half of the twentieth century in Wales and Ireland is the carefully described setting in which Blanche, Daisy, Caitlin and Mirna live their lives, affected by national and world events and by tragedies and triumphs of their own.
I stayed up all night to finish this book, I could not put it down. The characters are brought alive by Alana Beth Davies' thoroughly researched, captivating and precise writing.
BRILLIANT! I can't wait for Book Two.
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Lynn - Bridgend
A delightful tale of ordinary women belonging to different generations of one family. Set against a backdrop of Irish and Welsh working class history, this is a story of how the women of each generation faced everything thrown at them. It's a story of courage, strength and resilience in the Irish and Welsh communities of early 1900s.
A most engaging read.
Lorraine - Bridgend
Spanning the first sixty years of the twentieth century, and set in Ireland and Wales, ‘The mothers of Tobergell’ engages the reader from the beginning.
It is an evocative story of the life experiences of three generations of working class women. The themes of family love and loss are powerful and thought provoking.
A great read.
Some reviews of my books:
'The Story of Annie May'
Jane Elliott
Just thought I’d let you know that I finally read your book last week. I loved it and it only took me five days to read which is amazing for me. Can’t wait for the sequel!
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Betti Ede
I just wanted to say, I have started your book in earnest at last! It is such a lovely book, and I’m enjoying it so very much - the surprises, the sadness, the delights, and even the way it's printed on the page. I’m on page 200, so much more to go. It’s one of those books where I can't wait for bedtime to pick it up again!
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Ann Marie Thomas
So many twists I didn't see coming!
I wasn't too sure where this story was going, but soon got completely hooked. Well characterised, great setting, real people in real places. Loved it. Highly recommended.
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Richard E Rock
It all starts when Anya May Gethin lands herself a job as a temporary, fill-in teacher in a local college. It’s a big step and she feels unprepared and not a little terrified, but with her husband out of work and three daughters to support, it’s a leap she has to take.
This is the south Wales Valleys of the early 1980s. Margaret Thatcher is in No.10 and a miners’ strike is looming. In other words, life is pretty tough. However, our Anya (or Annie-May to her nearest and dearest) is strong, resilient and resourceful, and she has unwittingly just taken the first step on a journey that will eventually lead her all the way to Parliament. But to get there, she has to negotiate the rapids of forbidden love, institutional sexism and family secrets long buried deep.
Spanning several generations, The Making of Annie-May is a book about families, politics, ambition, secrets and lies, all driven by anger, desperation, the desire for a better world, and – of course – love. It is fantastically written with a vivid sense of character, time and place. Alana Beth Davies doesn’t just weave a handful of characters in these pages, she spins an entire village with its own social and economic eco system. And at the centre of this ever-spinning vortex of unemployment, babies, schooling, bills, divorce, marriage and frustration is Anya, who, with the endless support of her equally resilient mum Sarah, slowly comes to realise the importance of politics and how it affects every single aspect of her life.
This is as much a manifesto as it a novel, driven by fire and belief, and is utterly compelling from start to end. I couldn’t put it down.