Together Again by Milly Johnson

Sisters Jolene, Marsha and Annis have convened at their beautiful family home, Fox House, following the death of their mother, the tricky Eleanor Vamplew. Born seven years apart, the women are more strangers than sisters.

Jolene, the eldest, is a successful romantic novelist who writes about beautiful relationships even though her own marriage to the handsome and charming Warren is complicated.

Marsha, the neglected middle child, has put all of her energy into her work, hoping money will plug the gap in her life left by the man who broke her young heart.

Annis is the renegade, who left home aged sixteen and never returned, not even for the death of their beloved father Julian. Until now.

So when the sisters discover that their mother has left everything to Annis in her will, it undermines everything they thought they knew. Can saying their final goodbyes to Eleanor bring them together again?

Together, Again is the story of truths uncovered and lies exposed, of secrets told – and kept. It is a novel about sister helping sister to heal from childhood scars and finding in each other support, forgiveness, courage and love.

Title: Together Again

Author: Milly Johnson

Published By: Simon & Schuster UK

Publication Date: 29th September 2022

Links:  UK:   

Amazon           

Waterstones

WHSmith

Our Review

I always start my reviews by saying that Milly Johnson is my favourite author so I will first of all reiterate that whilst I try and formulate the words to describe this fabulous book.

Together Again, the title got to me straight away when I first heard it as it holds a promise of an emotive read for me and it certainly lived up to those high expectations.

To put it simply I have fallen in love with three amazing women in this book; Jolene, Marsha and Annis have all been through so much in their childhoods and the repercussions have affected their lives in completely different but harmful ways. A line from the book struck me as they described themselves as three only children because their age differences meant that they had nothing in common with each other and by the time Annis had reached sixteen she had run away from home and only came back for her mother's funeral.

As they spend time in Fox house they get to know each other again and their relationship as sisters slowly begins to grow. The sisters could never quite figure out why their mother couldn't seem to love them but it helps them in a way to become closer to each other. 

This book is a cocktail of shattered dreams, painful secrets, heartbreak, revenge and new beginnings. It takes the reader on a journey through some dark places, interspersed with Milly's trademark humour, then gallops along at a frantic pace where you will be cheering our three heroines on as they reach the next stage of their lives. I loved the twists and tangles of all of their lives, including Sally the neighbour who had been the keeper of one of the devastating secrets. Milly Johnson is a whizz at skilfully weaving the intricacies of the story together. Although the story features very dark themes, this book left me feeling satisfied, uplifted and joyful and I'd love to find out what happens next for these wonderful characters.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author

Milly Johnson was born, raised and still lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She is the author of 20 novels, 4 short story ebooks, a book of poetry and a Quick Reads Novella ('The Little Dreams of Lara Cliffe') and was an erstwhile leading copywriter for the greetings card industry. She is also a poem and joke-writer, a newspaper columnist and a seasoned after dinner speaker.

She won the RoNA for Best Romantic Comedy Novel of 2014 and 2016, the Yorkshire Society award for Arts and Culture 2015, the Romantic Novelist Association Outstanding Achievement award in 2020 and the Richard Whiteley Award for Inspiration to the County of Yorkshire in 2022.

She writes about love, life, friendships and the importance of community spirit. Her books champion women, their strength and resilience and celebrate her beloved Yorkshire.

Her 20th novel 'Together, Again' is published in hardback on 29th September and is about three estranged sisters convening after the death of their mother in order to arrange her funeral. Freed from the shadow of the overbearing Eleanor Vamplew, the three women come to realise that they have more in common than they could ever have realised.

Milly's website is www.millyjohnson.co.uk. She is on Twitter as @millyjohnson, Instagram as @themillyjohnson, TikTok as @millyjohnsonauthor and has a Facebook page @MillyJohnsonAuthor. She also has a monthly newsletter www.millyjohnson.co.uk/newsletter with exclusive, news, offers and competitions.

Author Q & A with Ian Wilfred

 

ELENA was leaving Lanzarote and heading to Tenerife after having been promoted to her dream job. Her life was complete, or so she thought.

VERONICA knew her life had to change after losing her husband of 50 years. She needed to carve out a new life for herself, and with a little help from her grandson Mikey, their lives were about to change forever.

FAYNA was off to visit her daughter Elena in Tenerife, the island she should have never left all those years ago.

KARINA was happy with her life, but would she be able to cope with a wonderful opportunity which comes her way?

CARLOS and SALVA are brothers who differ in many ways. However, there is something they both want, but will either succeed in getting it?

Friendships Begin in Tenerife containing secrets, romance and new beginnings, but above all it’s all about friendships

Title: Friendships Begin In Tenerife

Author: Ian Wilfred

Publication Date: 20th September 2022

Links: UK: Amazon

Author Q and A with Ian Wilfred.

Before we get started I'd just like to say that I recently met Ian at the Romantic Novelists' Association's conference and he is just as lovely as he appears on twitter. He is wonderfully supportive to many of us authors and a huge champion of the genre.

Hi Ian and welcome to Sincerely Book Angels blog.

Thank you so much for inviting me. 

What inspired you to write Friendships Begin In Tenerife?

My inspiration came from seeing a waitress in a hotel, she came to take a drinks order and one of the characters just appeared and although isn’t the main character the story started to unravel in my head. 

Did you always want to be a writer? 

No writing was something other people did, not me, but somehow twelve books later I’m here. How and why it happened I don’t really know, I'm scared to stop and think. 

What other jobs have you had? 

From leaving school I’ve always worked in retail and the hospitality business and lots of stories from those days pop up now and then in my books. 

How did it feel when your first novel was published?

My first novel was all very odd as a short time after it was published my dad died and the now husband  moved to Norfolk so it wasn’t until the second one was published that it all started to sink in and I started to enjoy the experience. 

Can you please tell us a little about your publishing story. 

I’m a self published indie author and am very blessed to have a fabulous team of ladies behind me. Nancy is my editor, Rebecca formats all my work and sorts all the Amazon stuff for me. Maureen proof reads and then Cathy Helms in America designs my book covers and we’ve all been together since book two. 

How does it feel being a male writer in a genre where women are the majority?

I don’t have a problem being in the minority. Once I was advised to use a pen name but no it’s never been an issue plus all my working life I’ve worked more with women then men and the support and encouragement I get from the fabulous female writing community is unbelievable.

 

What other books have you written? 

I’ve written three books set in Greece, three in Spain and two in Norfolk. Also two short stories. Not forgetting one that went from Devon to London, New York and Martha’s Vineyard and now I’m heading off to Tenerife with my next couple.

Have you ever had writer's block? 

Never had writer’s block but I do have a few projects I’ve started and got to 40 thousand words and given up on them but saying that parts of them do end up in other books, nothing is wasted. 

What motivates you to keep writing?

I’m never short of motivation I live in a dream world and the characters in my head are insisting I tell their stories 

Where is your favourite place to write? ( can we please have a picture)

I have a couple of favourite places to write in the lounge on the sofa laptop on my knees I don’t think I’ve ever told anyone that before but I get more words written then if I’m sat at my desk and in the garden again when the weather is good on a sofa. 

What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?

The best bit of writing advise I heard and it’s stuck with me and I take it into all my writing was from the author Amanda Brookfield. 'Add depth to the characters you have, don’t just add more characters,' and of course what Milly Johnson says, 'Just put your bum on the chair and write the B thing it won’t write itself.'

Which authors inspire you?

So many authors I could give you a list of thousands. 

What are you reading at the moment?

I have trouble reading fiction while I’m writing fiction and I’m looking forward to starting Esme Young’s (Sewing Bee) biography next but also I’m very lucky to have been given an advanced copy of the new Milly Johnson, Together Again. I’m itching to dive in but not for another couple of weeks until I finish writing my 2023 summer book 

Who would you choose to play your favourite character in the film of your book? 

In Friendships Begin In Tenerife which is published on 20th September there is an older character called Veronica and I can see her being played by the wonderful Alison Steadman  

What is your next book about? 

Like I mentioned I’m working on another book which will be out spring summer next year it’s also set in Tenerife and it all revolves around a luxury villa that is rented out and the different holiday makers that stay in it. After that one I’m not sure, I have so many ideas going on in my head twenty four seven.

Thank you so much for joining us on our blog today and good luck with the book. 

Thank you so much again for inviting me. 

Sincerely 

Book Angel x 

About the Author

Ian Wilfred's debut novel 'Putting Right The Past' is set on the island of Tenerife and was published in 2013. Since then he has gone on to publish other books set in his beloved Norfolk, the Greek islands and Martha's Vineyard.

In 2020 Ian has chosen a new location for his next feel good read; he's heading off to sunny Spain.

Ian lives on the Norfolk coast with his husband and west highland terrier. He is a member of the Romantic Novelist Association.

You can follow Ian on twitter at @ianwilfred39