So great to be back with Veronica and the gang. A little rollercoaster of emotions again with this book. A great follow on story.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I really like this authors books and have fallen in love with Penguins. This was a great story, great characters and I loved it.

Fantastic to back with Patrick , Veronica and Daisy . A lovely story . You learn a lot about penguins and age. You felt for Terry at times. Daisy was a strong little girl. The story was bang up to date with the Petras death . The story of Patrick’s parents was so moving. I loved how Veronica got to grips with the emails. Another ace book by Hazel Prior

Had not read the prequel to this book, but this didn't dampen my spirit in discovering a love for the way the author tells this beautiful tale of families & their ups & downs. But the stars of the tale have to be the wonderful charismatic penguins, who I learned to love along the way. Beautifully written & I await the next tale in the journey

I’m a big fan of Hazel Priors books having loved the first book in this series which was one of the most memorable books of 2020 .I was therefore absolutely delighted that NetGalley Uk approved me to read this book early .I would definitely have bought the book if I hadn’t been lucky enough so I’m hoping my review will help the author’s sales
Veronica the 80 plus lead became my role model for how I would like my own active retirement to be and I’m pleased to say she continues to fulfil this place in my life ,I may have a new catch phrase ,what would Veronica do !?
Everyone loves penguins and this book.manages to introduce us to many different species as the group fly round the world seeking them out for a tv series .I found myself googling the different species to see what they looked like although on doing this I discovered it was totally unnecessary as the author describes the different characters of each breed so well .
This book is a gentle relaxing read and was just what I needed after the last book I’d read which had left me sitting uncomfortably on the edge my seat ,after an afternoon with the characters in this book I was back in my comfy armchair with a cup of tea .
The characters and their relationships were explored further and I loved the fact that I felt disappointed at one stage that the story seemed to be becoming a bit predictable girl meets boy they fall in love and have babies only for outcomes to be temporarily redirected .
The settings for the book are as spectacular as in book one but moving around to other countries prevented any possibility of claustrophobia or stagnation
In summary another fabulous book from an author who is fast becoming a new favourite .I’m off now to twitter to let her know how much I loved it .
The book is published 11 November 2021 by Random house just in time for you to pop a copy in your loved ones Christmas stocking .
I read an early copy on NetGalley Uk

What a fantastic sequel to Away with the Penguins - and I enjoyed this one just as much as the first one.
A lovely endearing read, that I didn't want to stop reading.
I love nature, and all animals anyway, but I definitely have a thing for penguins after reading these books!

Great sequel to Away with the Penguins. As uplifting as the first book. Heartwarming story, lovely characters, gentle plot. Everyone needs these books from time to time.

This sequel to Away With the Penguins was just as exciting and adventurous with the witty humour that only Veronica can get away with.
If you haven't read Away With the Penguins get a copy now!
All I can say is I've got a newfound love for Penguins since reading about Pip the penguin.

This book taught me that we are always learning and we should always cherish every moment!

What a wonderful, heart-warming, gentle book. I fell in love with Veronica from the beginning and I can still hear her voice in my head! I enjoyed this story a lot and couldn't wait to get back to it. While I thought a couple of things were a bit far-fetched, it didn't detract from the loveliness of the book.

A sweet read about penguins (of course) as well as family, relationships and life choices. This one definitely had some heavier themes and feels to it. I found it to be just as enjoyable as the first book! I would definitely recommend reading the first book before jumping in to read as there are a lot of references and personal histories to keep up with, Also in this copy I noticed a significant amount of grammatical and spelling mistakes so I hope it is edited out before release.

Thank you for the advanced copy in exchange for a review.

Confession - I have not read the first one so will go back and read the first one now I have read this one.

This made me laugh and I loved just sitting in the garden reading and enjoying this, fabulous read, great characters.

Lovely to be back with the great characters, Veronica, Patrick and Terry again. The story is as heart warming and funny as the first. Enjoyed finding out more about penguins.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

This is the second instalment featuring Veronica McCreedy, now 87 and her love of penguins. She has young Daisy aged 9, staying with her at Ballahays in Ayr to help her recover from the impact of chemotherapy. Their mantra is ‘Remember the Penguins’ and who doesn’t love a Penguin??? The redoubtable and highly capable housekeeper Eileen looks after both of them extremely well. Meanwhile, Veronica’s grandson Patrick is at the research station at Locket Island, South Shetlands in Antarctica which is paid for by the generosity of Veronica. We follow the ups and downs of his relationship with Terry and his quest to find out more about his father and Veronica’s son Enzo which takes him to Canada. Veronica is invited by Sir Robert Saddlebow to co-present documentaries from Australia and the Falkland Isles the focus will be on ... well, obviously penguins. Daisy is invited to travel with her.

Veronica and Daisy are at opposite ends of the age spectrum and both are delightfully captivating and enchanting, I love Veronica’s ‘old fashioned’ voice and turns of phrase and admirable values which charm the reader. She’s like HRH, never knowingly without her handbag even whilst filing in Antarctica! Daisy is fabulous, she’s funny as her mind whirls like a dervish and she’s very caring and bless her heart, she’s been through a lot for her young years. Her joy and enthusiasm for penguins is catching. In this one focus is especially on a Rockhopper which Daisy befriends whom they name Petra and this storyline is very moving. The book takes an important environmental angle especially the impact of plastics which makes you feel ashamed. The book has plenty of joyful laughter and much to thoroughly entertain, there is some sadness and drama, there are instances of lack of communication but plenty of examples of kindness. It’s heartwarming and thought provoking, I daresay it follows a predictable path but it’s none the worse for that!

Overall, if you love penguins and well crafted characters and a storyline that is well told then this is for you!!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK, Transworld, Black Swan for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

It was lovely to be back with Veronica again in this second book of the series and learning more about penguins. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this book.

Veronica, Patrick and Terry are back again, bringing with them their love of penguins. 87 year old Veronica has enjoyed a trip of a lifetime meeting her beloved Adélie penguins in Antartica, proving she can do whatever she puts her mind to. Therefore when she’s invited to present a wildlife documentary in the southern hemisphere, she jumps at the chance at another adventure.

Meanwhile Veronica’s grandson Patrick and his girlfriend Terry are facing big decisions when it comes to their relationship. Patrick is also determined to find out what happened to his mysterious father, but will he and Veronica be prepared for what he discovers?

I do feel this sequel lacks some of the charm of the original. It was nice to catch up with the original characters but as a stand alone novel I found it a little underwhelming.

In the first book I loved hearing about Veronica’s past. My favourite parts of the story were hers, and I enjoyed learning what happened in the past to make her such a formidable and independent character. Without these flashes to the past, the book just didn’t have the same impact.

There was a lot more talk of environmental issues, especially surrounding the risk to penguins, which can be applauded. We learn about different species of penguins and the dangers they face every day due to human carelessness.

The story was pleasant but I just felt it didn’t really add that much to the original.

I enjoyed Away With The Penguins, Veronica was a magnificent character so I was interested to see where her journey led, this continued her story well and it was good to see more of some of the other characters however I didn’t feel it was as uplifting as the first book. Veronica seemed more fragile in this and her grandson struggling however young Daisy was a highlight as she spent time with Veronica during her own recovery. There were times this felt a bit preachy but otherwise it was really informative about penguins and I loved the impact they had on the characters.

Another lovely Penguin orientated book. You don't have to have read Away with the Penguins, but it gives you a better understanding of Veronica and how much she has softened in the last year.
Veronica is invited by Sir Robert Saddlebow to help filming on his next documentary about seabirds. It means a trip to the Falkland Islands. At the same time Patrick has left the Antarctic research team after a disagreement so Veronica arranges for him to fly to Canada to research his father. This kicks up all sorts of emotions for both Patrick and Veronica. There are times when you want to shake the characters and yell, talk to each other! but this is an enjoyable book. I loved the penguins..

A lovely return to the lives of Veronica, Terry, Patrick and Daisy and their enjoyment of penguins, we are taken on my journeys - emotionally and distance. The sticky tape for them all are the wonderful penguins that they meet and observe. We learn more about Patrick's past and how it has made him and he is able to make sense of his past and put ghosts to bed.
Veronica is just as wonderful again with her eccentric ways and manner - but is she starting to have her sharp edges softened?
A lovely read - will there be book number 3.

Thank you for allowing me to read this prior to publication.

Thank you to Netgalley and penguin random house for a pre publication copy. In return for an honest review! #callofthepenguins #netgalley

Veronica McCreedy is an 86 year old millionaire who lives in Ayrshire, Scotland. She previously visited Antarctica and has made a name for herself as penguin ambassador. Robert Saddlebow is doing another programme on penguins and he asks Veronica to present it. Should Veronica take the opportunity? Will it allow her family and friends to change their lives too?

Penguin random house came to me, based on my other reviews, to see if I would be able to review this book. After reading the first in the series i knew I would continue with it.

The way the author has used each chapter as a different character perspective. Allows you to learn something about each character or watch them grow with each passing chapters. Some do give you a cliff hanger making you want to know more from that character but leaving you filling in the gaps with the next.

I love how delicately the author has put this book together merging romance, womens fiction, non fiction and historical fiction together. It is a lovely way to give 21st century problems such as plastic in the ocean airtime without lecturing. Although at times the non fiction aspects of the book did not flow with the fiction as well as the first boom. Making it at times very "blocky," mainly towards the end.

This book makes you cry, laugh and give empathy to all the characters. It is a great cosy read. Although their are some emotional subjects included in this book such as parents death, WW2, adoption, drugs, animal death, suicide and teenage pregnancies. I do not feel this takes away from the cosy feel of the book and works well with the characters involved. This book expands on the first only adding small amounts of extra topics. Something I think the author has mastered well because she very easily could have been bogged down with adding lots of other topics for the characters to experience.

This is what I wrote in my last review of the first book - "I would love a sequel to this finding out how Veronicas new life and thoughts carry her through her octogenarian years, how patrick and Terry get on and of course the Penguins. As well as to follow Daisy and family further hopefully to remission." To sum up nicely this is exactly what the second book holds.

On the other hand this book was a slow starter. It felt for at least the first quarter to half of the book we were getting absolutely no where just plodding through the snow. Although it was lovely reuniting with the team and penguins in that time. All the action happened after that and then it became a page Turner particularly in the last 20%. The ending is not what you expect which is a lovely way to keep you in suspense.

3.5/5

If you’re worried about this sequel – don’t be. Trust us – it’s perfect. Well, not perfect because nothing is, not even Veronica, but you know what we mean. It’s Veronica. It’s Penguins. It’s Hazel Prior’s calm, unruffled, precise way of writing. And it’s exactly what we need.

You can read these books out of order but why would you? You do need to read book one for the full effect of Veronica’s personality and the history. This book has some many themes woven together to eventually bring the main characters together too. The plight of the Penguins, and of nature in general, is carefully and tastefully highlighted, so that whilst it’s highly educational you’re not being preached to. Fact is beautifully merged into the fiction that we’ve come to know and love from Hazel Prior.

So in conclusion, this is a beautiful follow up to Away with the Penguins – an already brilliant story with great characters. You will enjoy going back and meeting some of them all over again, especially those Penguins…