Kathy Hepinstall

I just love Southern novels with a sense of cham and humour and in my my mind I was sitting out on the back porch, sipping Ice tea while the fireflys kept me company on a balmy evening in June Reality was a wet Bank holiday Monday in June and the chance to sit outside would be luxury in Ireland, but through reading one can be any where any time and for this book my head was in the deep American South.

I have previously read [b:Blue Asylum|12331596|Blue Asylum|Kathy Hepinstall|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1324673247s/12331596.jpg|17310610][bc:Blue Asylum|12331596|Blue Asylum|Kathy Hepinstall|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1324673247s/12331596.jpg|17310610] by Kathy Hepinstall and thoroughly enjoyed it and was so happy to read [b:The Book of Polly|30763908|The Book of Polly|Kathy Hepinstall|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1471279606s/30763908.jpg|51320025]and it really didn't disappoint as the writting and characters just ooze that southern charm that makes me want to pack a bag and hop on a plane.

I simply adored the characters in this book and the lines were just fabulous with so much wit and humour and charm that I laughed out loud many times. I fell head over heels in love with Polly and her no nonsense attitude and Willow and the other characters were equally as interesting and charming. There is a serious side to the story when the " Bear" becomes a reality in the lives of Polly and Willow but the author has a way with words that keeps this book fresh and fun.

This isn't the sort of book that keeps you on the edge of your seat but its a beautiful story, well written and full of witty lines with tons of southern charm. Its the sort of feel good book that keeps you turning the pages because you have fallen for the characters and care about what becomes of them.

Really enjoyed this book and recommend it to readers who have enjoy southern fiction or just want a feel good summer read to transport them to someplace else.… (more)

Blue Asylum a novel by Katy Hempinstall.

The premise of this book is what drew me to it and when I received my hard back copy in the post I was stunned by this beautiful book which the cover and artwork really caught my imagination and this is the reason I still love to read a physical book.

The story is set amid the mayhem of the civil war and plantation wife Iris Dunleavy is put on trial and convicted of madness. She is sent away to Sanibel Asylum to be restored to health. Iris knows that she is no lunatic and her only crime is disagreeing with her husband's notions of justice.

Blue Asylum is a beautiful, absorbing and passionate story and deals with the fine lines between sanity and insanity. The story is told in flashbacks between present actions and this works very well in this novel and leaves it with a quite suspenseful air.

The writing is lyrical and the characters are real and very well portrayed. I loved the spirited character of Iris Dunleavy and the way in which the author drew a picture of this lady was amazing. The images in the book really do come to life as you read it especially the island.

I really enjoyed this novel and found myself thinking and caring about the characters. I am giving it 4.5 stars because I really enjoyed it.
Readers who enjoyed the Kitchen House or the Homecoming of Samuel lake I think will enjoy this Novel.

I now have to read all of Kathy Hepinstall's novels.… (more)