Straightaway the cover (and the title) reminded me of Ruth Hogan’s novels which I absolutely adore and once you begin reading you might even think Sally Page’s writing resembles her style too. Gathering up stories as she goes about her life, Janice has forgotten her own powerful and emotional story.

Her eldest daughter, Alex, is studying to be a doctor and her younger daughter is the author, Libby Page.

I fell totally in love with Janice’s stories and those of Mrs B, especially the reminiscing of her younger self and the Becky saga. They learn about the power of storytelling, about how stories can shape our lives and help us make sense of our world.

My thanks as always to the publisher OMC and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review. Adam, a twelve-year-old who has recently lost his dad to suicide, is heart-breaking, his pain is evident, and he needs to lash out and then learn to live his best life. This poignant read gave all the emotions, from happy delight to the most profound sadness, to the characters. She starts cleaning for Mrs B, a cantankerous and delightful woman who also likes to collect stories. The Keeper Of Stories is also the name of interactive storytelling game that was developed by a team of award-winning authors, designers, and developers to bring interactive storytelling experiences to a new level.Perhaps they always had done, but now it is different, now the stories are reaching out to her and she gathers them to her.

When she goes to clean for Mrs B, she finally meets someone who wants to know her story- but does she have one? It follows the story of two young children, Max and Emilia, who are taken away to the magical realm of Deltora. The Keeper Of Stories is an incredible journey of self-discovery that will stay with you long after reaching the last page! I loved Adam, who had lost his father, a dog helped him start to heal and played an important role in the book. Janice is such a wonderful character that is impossible not to root for her from the beginning and seeing her blossom and free herself from her husband and the past that held her back for so long was truly a joy.I found the main character very likeable and the whole story was so warm like soaking in a lovely warm bath after a long and tiring day. It also serves to remind us that the elderly, the people with the richest and most abundant stories, should never be underestimated. However you might be forgiven for thinking this is going to be a random collection of individual short stories because that’s what it feels like at the beginning and you wonder how the author is going to link them together but please dismiss those thoughts. Living and working in the Cambridge area, Janice cleans for a few select clients and although she’s exceptionally good at her job that’s not what makes her stand out as an interesting, memorable character.