Caroline Smailes | About Caroline Wallace

What People Are Saying About

Compelling though many protagonists are, and they need to be if you’re going to make it to the end of the average novel, it’s a rare thing indeed to fall headlong in love with a lead character to the extent that you do with the whimsical, trusting but ultimately strong Martha Lost.

SparklyPrettyBriiiight

Romantic, moving and evocative, I was completely engrossed by this book.

ChickLit Club

This magical book had me bewitched within a few paragraphs. Martha is an irresistible character, who brings light and laughter into the lives of every person she meets - and will do to yours too! If you love the films Amelie or Hugo, you will adore this magical modern fairytale. I just hope rumours of a movie adaptation are true.

GoodtoKnow, Essentials

If the world were filled with Marthas it would be a better place.

Linda Hill, Linda's Book Bag

For a character to not even feel fictional, to feel like someone who actually lived is a rare thing for an author to achieve in a story but Caroline Wallace has with this remarkable piece of work.

Shaun, Book Addict Shaun

This is a book of magic and wonder; where fairy tales and real life intermingle, producing an intoxicating brew which will leave you thirsting for more!

Katherine Sunderland, BiblioManiac

A funny, touching and lyrical story of fairy tales, friendship and finding yourself.

Sophie Glorita, Back to the Books

I don’t think I’ve ever read a novel that has so many references to cake.

Helen, A Bookish Baker

Martha in particular stands out, with her indestructible joie de vivre, constantly looking for the good in everyone and the joy in the little things. This book deals with some sensitive topics (like domestic abuse) in an incredibly delicate manner and builds a gorgeous modern fairytale about finding yourself.

Book For Thought

A magical fairytale that brings Liverpool into glorious life and has a truly charming star of a protagonist in Martha.

Beth, Plasticrosaries.com

One of Marie Claire's must-reads of April 2016.

Marie Claire

It's such a beautiful fairytale. My heart melted for Martha.

Actress, Ciara Baxendale

One of Cathy Rentzenbrink's top picks in Prima's cracking reads (April 2016).

Cathy Rentzenbrink, Prima

The Stylist list Martha as one of the 'The most gripping new reads of March' calling it a 'charming tale'.

The Stylist

It's a modern fairy tale you'll adore.

Essentials

A charming, quirky tale that I really took to.

Woman & Home

It's like a Scouse Shadow of the Wind.

Anne Cater, Random Things Through My Letterbox

A true delight from start to finish. Utterly charming and completely satisfying.

Deborah Install

A glorious, glittering kaleidoscope of a novel with vivid, magical characters popping into view with each turn of the page.

Lovely Treez Reads

Adored The Finding of Martha Lost. Funny, sweet, sad love story to Liverpool. Can't stop thinking about it.

Keris Stainton

It's a fairy tale for grown ups. You'll laugh, you'll love, you'll cry and you'll really hate, but in the end, you'll leave this book feeling happy and joyous.

So Many Books, So Little Time

The Finding Of Martha Lost’ takes the reader on a healing journey. With Martha we find out what it is like to be lost and what it might take to be found.

Fiction Is Stranger Than Fact

Charming, magical and beautifully imagined

Cary Bray

There is something reminiscent of Roald Dahl about this story, it has a magical, slightly surreal feel to it, is full of unique characters and has the right mix of laughter, sadness and slight menace and darkness that typified Dahl’s work.

Janet, From First Page To Last

The Finding of Martha Lost combines the themes that Caroline Wallace is so good at writing about - love, loss, fairytale, fantasy, desire and mystery whilst giving you a fuck off great big punch in the heart while you're least expecting it.

BookC*nt