The Cuckoos of Batch Magna

When Sir Humphrey Miles Pinkerton Strange, huntin' shootin' and fishin' Squire of Batch Magna, goes to his reward (doubtless to find God as true-blue British as his more recent but equally worthy ancestors), his rambling but rotting estate passes to distant relative Humph, a hapless dollar doodler in New York.With $$ in his eyes, Humph decides to make a killing by transforming the sleepy backwater of Batch Magna into a theme park image of rural England - a vacation paradise for free-spending US millionaires.


But while the village's threadbare businessmen see the plan as a windfall, the tenants of the estate's dilapidated houseboats are above any consideration of filthy lucre and stand their ground for tradition's sake . and because they consider eviction notices not to be cricket.Each disgruntled faction sees the other as the unwelcome cuckoo chick in the family nest!

So, lead by randy pulp-crime writer Phineas Cook and Lt-Commander James Cunningham DSO, DSC and Bar, RN (ret) - a man with a glass eye to suit every occasion (and all painted with naval battle scenes where the Union Jack flies triumphant) - the motley crew takes on Wall Street .

*May Contain Spoilers*

The Cuckoos of Batch Magna by Peter Maughan is a humorous novel based in England, or Wales (depending on your nationality), and shares the story of the erratic troop that call the grounds home when it is threatened by an outsider. 

Batch Magna itself is the main character of the novel - with each actual character a piece of it's personality. The stubborn Commander. The foolish Phineas. The adventurous (and I use this term loosely) Lucy. The wanderer Daniel. The know it all Jasmine. The mothering Annie. All of these traits add up to one hilarious main character as they take on the next heir of the estate, Humph. Readers will thoroughly enjoy reading about the group's plan to kill Humph and let the estate pass to another relative of the late Sir Strange. Though it will be hard for readers to connect with all of the characters as a whole - they will definitely find at least one quality that will bring them into the story, evoking true feelings for the fate of the crazy troop.

The plot is a wonderful tale of finding happiness, pride, and courage within. As Humph comes to know the villagers of Batch Magna, he finds that he actually likes them (even with the death threats). Through the progression of the book, Humph discovers that to be himself he must go against the wishes of others and stand up for what he thinks is right. 

Rating: 3/5 Cups

The Cuckoos of Batch Magna (The Batch Magna Novels)

WWW Wednesday (55)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…


• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

01. Currently Reading: 
The Cuckoos of Batch Magna by Peter Maughan. When the owner of a Welsh estate passes, he leaves it to the next heir - an unexpected American relative. Now he's planning on turning into a resort while planning to evict everyone who lives there. 

02. Recently Finished:
Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks. A woman runs away from an abusive marriage and tries to start over in a small coastal town. Wonderful story. 

03. Reading Next:
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson. Finally getting around to reading this Swedish murder mystery. 

Teaser Tuesday (65)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The Cuckoos of Batch Magna (Kindle Loc. 1186-89)
   - Peter Maughan


He had been wondering when this would happen, and here it was. His comeuppance. And it found him, as it were, without his trousers on.
Because, beleaguered and hungover, all he'd ended up with when he'd tried to find a story anywhere near convincing enough to explain the other Sally to this Sally, was a headache.

Safe Haven

Love hurts. There is nothing as painful as heartbreak. But in order to learn to love again, you must learn to trust again.


When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.

But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo’s empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Nicholas Sparks' novel, Safe Haven, is an emotionally moving story that inspires faith and hope in even the darkest of situations. When Erin escapes from her abusive husband she must learn how to survive, how to trust, and how to love without fear. 

Erin is the main character, who goes by Katie most of the novel, and she is a true inspiration to readers. She has been controlled, manipulated, and beaten most of her adult life by a husband who claims to love her. When she finally realizes that he will never change, no matter how many promises he makes, she decides to save her own life by running away. Erin is full of life, incredibly courageous, and braver than most. Readers will connect with her through these traits but also because she's good-hearted and sweet natured. The story of her past will pull readers in and the hope for her future will keep them reading until the bittersweet end. 

The plot of the story combines love and mystery. As it unfolds, readers learn that her husband hasn't given up on Erin and will do anything it takes to find her. Throughout the course of the novel, we see Erin reaching for her new life and opening herself up to new possibilities. But the horror of Erin's life isn't over yet as her husband and her past both come unbidden. 

Rating 3.5/5

Safe Haven