Today is the publication day to Only the Trees Know by Heather Hansen. This book is an Agatha Christie-like book where four kids go into the woods and only one comes out. I really had high hopes for this book and was super excited to read it, but I ended up giving it a 1.5 ⭐️
I really liked the concept of four go in, one goes out, and only one is alive to tell their story but can you believe him when there’s no one to back him up and he has a history of violent aggressions?
I felt that the bouncing back and fourth between each chapter, especially when some of the chapters are considerably short, made the book feel slightly disorienting as I wanted to see more of the trial especially. I feel that the trial was such a great scene that could have been built out so much more than it was.
Especially with all the testimonies, I wanted to get more than just a few paragraphs of each. I also wanted to see more of the conversations of the DA and Josiah’s attorney when questioning people and their opening and closing remarks. I needed those scenes to give me more information. We also don’t have a lot of evidence for or against Josiah making it hard for me to believe that a jury would even indict him.
The more we found out about the death and how it happened the more I knew he had done it. I didn’t think that the twist that he was the killer was very shocking and I feel like throughout the whole book all the little clues just pointed more and more to him.
As a character I didn’t have any connection with him and at some points, especially in the scenes with Josiah and Liam, I wanted to just skip ahead because I didn’t like either of them as characters or their personalities. I think the only character that I enjoyed learning more about was Parker. He wasn’t a good person, but I found him the most intriguing and I felt like his dialogue was the most realistic and the most appealing.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It’s an exciting day! Today is the publication day for The Secrets Next Door by Sally Royer-Derr. I read this book in one sitting yesterday to end my weekend and really couldn’t put it down.
It is probably one of my favorite books of 2024 so far!
The book follows twins that live next door and even own a bakery together. But when someone next door moves in their lives are flipped upside down. But for each twin the reasoning for the new neighbor is very different. Who is this neighbor and why is she here?
The very beginning it was slightly hard to tell the difference between Talia and Tabitha apart since they are twins and the names are slightly similar, but once I figured them out it was hard to mix them up. I did not like Tabitha at all, which I think is the point, but as a character she was flushed out so well, and was such a believable character right from the beginning. Since we have both Tabitha and Talia’s points of view we can see the inner struggles Tabitha is struggling with which just adds more to her character development.
I loved the different points of view that this book had. It has Tabitha and Talia and then towards the end we even get Anne’s (the new neighbor’s) point of view. This added so much more to the story as the plot is throwing the reader in so many different ways. I was always on Talia’s side (seems to be a theme in the book haha), but I could never tell if she was doing the right thing, adding to the suspense of what was going to happen.
There is a lot of build to the main turning of the plot, since that happens around 40% of the book. Even though the plot doesn’t pick up until that point, the plot was not lacking at all before that. It was still giving me enough mystery and intrigue from the beginning that I was flying through the book and then once I hit 40% I went into lightening speed reading it.
I also feel like there are little subplots throughout the book. It does not pull from the main plot but it adds more to the twins relationships and to the town itself. I also think that the little details in the subplots add up in the main plot and help the reader decipher what they want to believe. I will say the subplots and the actual plot really threw me off the tracks of what was actually happening.
Also, the prologue of this book really yanked me in. I wasn’t sure until the end how it was going to tie into the book. I actually kind of forgot about the prologue until it came back up. And once all the pieces were put together it all made sense and was done beautifully.
All the twists really added up to a great book where I did not guess the ending at all. I thoroughly enjoyed this whole book, and it is probably one of my favorite books of this year so far! There is a good chance I will be going back and reading every book by Sally Royer-Derr!
I just reviewed The Secrets Next Door by Sally Royer-Derr. #TheSecretsNextDoor #NetGalley
Happy Publication Day to The Library Murders by Merryn Allingham!
This book was a fast and fun read, but I definitely had some more problems with it than I would have wanted!
I liked the concept of having a murder take place during a crime book conference.
I did not like Jack as a person or as Flora’s significant other. I felt that he was condescending towards her and wasn’t always thinking about their relationship. But also, Flora also wasn’t the best with keeping things hidden. I wish that they weren’t love interests but instead were just partners in crime, I think I would’ve liked that dynamic better.
The time period was a great choice for this book. I felt that it added to some of the mystery since there is no social media and no cell phones to make communication easier. It is also just a fun time period to read about, and it definitely added some layers and helped the reader understand why some of the characters are thinking the way that they are.
I feel that some of the investigation fell flat for me. I liked most of the main suspects that there were, but I felt that the investigation into Basil fell short for me.
I hated Ridley as a character, but he did further the plot with letting Flora and Jack investigate by themselves and he did bring in some fun to some of the scenes. Lastly, I felt that the money that Flora gets didn’t need to be in the book. It felt like a forgotten plot line in some places, especially since it didn’t actually make anyone question Flora at all and what she was doing. I think this could have really added a bunch into the plot if people started to second guess Flora.
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this ARC to read and review!
Happy Valentine’s Day! I am here to bring you another romance book from the Bellbird Bay series. For those of you who recently followed, this series can be read all together, or as standalone books. Scroll down to the bottom to see the other reviews I did for other books in this series!
Book Blurb:
It’s been over twenty years since Cass Marshall’s relationship fell apart, and she returned home to Bellbird Bay. Now, although happy with the success of her beachwear business, Cass often longs for someone special to share her life.
Nursing the wounds of a failed marriage, Mick Roberts has finally accepted his ex has moved on with her life. Determined to avoid his daughter’s attempts at matchmaking, he immerses himself in his whale-watching business.
When family sickness brings the two together, Cass wonders if her life is about to take a turn for the better. But with Mick’s ex-wife also being Cass’s best friend, a seed of doubt emerges.
This doubt intensifies when Cass’s recently widowed ex arrives in town, determined to use any means to drive a wedge between Cass and Mick as he fights for a second chance.
Can Bellbird Bay work its magic again and provide a happy ever after for Cass and Mick, or are they destined to spend the rest of their lives alone?
My Review:
This is not my first book in the Bellbird Bay series, and I have actually reviewed a few of them! I am putting the links to my other reviews below, make sure to check them out!
Although this isn’t my first book in the series, I have not read all of them and I did not read them in order, but this is a series that does not need to be read one after the other and all stand alone very well.
Even though I haven’t read all the books, and they can stand alone, wow did I love knowing some of the characters from previous books. This book by itself really brings you into the small town feel and really gets you up to speed with all the characters, but knowing the characters from before really made me feel like I was returning home in a sense.
Sadly this will be the last book in the series, which is really hard to believe! There is hope that a few of the locals will find a spot in some of Maggie Christensen’s new books, and I know I will be keeping an eye out for that!
Mick and Cass seem to be pulled together, but of course, there are also things–like life– pulling them away from each other. I enjoyed seeing both of them deal with the issues inside of themselves while trying to figure out what is best for themselves when looking at their budding relationship.
This series always has a mature way to look at relationships and one’s situations. This is an aspect that many romance books lack, so it is a breath of fresh air to see so many adults acting in a realistic way that makes me care for them more.
I have enjoyed every trip I took to Bellbird Bay, and still have a few more trips to go to round out the rest of the series. I highly recommend this book/series to someone that needs a light read, or a fun series that can pull them into the beautiful setting of Bellbird Bay.
After a career in education, Maggie Christensen began writing romantic women’s fiction, feel good stories of second chances. Her travels inspire her writing, be it her trips to visit family in Scotland, in Oregon, USA or her home on Queensland’s beautiful Sunshine Coast. Maggie writes of mature heroines coming to terms with changes in their lives and the heroes worthy of them. Maggie has been called the queen of mature age fiction and her writing has been described by one reviewer as like a nice warm cup of tea. It is warm, nourishing, comforting and embracing.
From the small town in Scotland where she grew up, Maggie was lured to Australia by the call to ‘Come and teach in the sun’. Once there, she worked as a primary school teacher, university lecturer and in educational management. Now living with her husband of over thirty years on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, she loves walking on the deserted beach in the early mornings and having coffee by the river on weekends. Her days are spent surrounded by books, either reading or writing them – her idea of heaven!
Since Valentine’s Day is coming up I thought it would be a nice time to review The Fixer Upper, a book with some cute romance.
Book Blurb:
Finding a man is like buying a house: sometimes you have to look beyond the exterior to see the potential underneath.
As an estate agent, Alex’s job is to create happy-ever-afters. It’s just a shame she can’t work the same magic on her own life. Her long-term boyfriend Thomas still lives with his mother, and her hopes of them taking the next step are dashed when he announces he’s spending all his savings (savings she’d quite hoped he’d want to put towards their future home) on an ‘artist retreat’ in San Francisco.
With Thomas thousands of miles away, getting a little too friendly with his fellow artistes, Alex strikes up a friendship with her new neighbour, Callum. Taciturn, grumpy and nerdy, Callum couldn’t be more different to Alex’s bubbly personality…. So why is he the one she wakes up wanting to talk to?
As they get to know each other, Alex starts to wonder if the answer to all her problems might be closer to home than she thinks…
My Review:
This book was so cute! I wasn’t the biggest fan of Emma, Alex’s best friend and roommate, and in some of the scenes with her I found myself rolling my eyes. But as she isn’t the main character I was able to put her in the back of my mind.
This book was very predictable, from the rooming situation with Emma and Alex being hard, to what was going to happen with Thomas when he left, to Alex moving in and falling for Callum.
But as I have said many times, I love a good Hallmark movie, and that is exactly what this book felt like. I might have known what was going to happen, but that didn’t stop me form enjoying the book.
I read this book in basically one sitting, and really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the comedic relief throughout, and I also love how Alex is able to stick up for herself, not only to Thomas but also to her friend Emma.
I love the growth we see between Alex and Callum as a couple but also as individuals. I had a great time reading this book, and would definitely recommend it to people that like hallmark movies!
Author Bio:
Phoebe MacLeod is the author of several popular laugh-out-loud romantic comedies. She mainly sets her books in her home county of Kent and her first new title for Boldwood will be published in November 2022. They will also be republishing her existing titles from August this year.
January seemed to last three months this year, but I did get a lot of good reading done. This month I read 27 books, some were on my 150-book list while others were ones I randomly added.
A perfect cosy crime for fans of M C Beaton’s Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth series.
Change is coming to Wendlebury Barrow – and not everyone is happy about it…
When the local bus company announces it will be stopping its route through their quaint Cotswold village, the people of Wendlebury Barrow are up in arms. Not least Sophie Sayers, whose driving lessons with her boyfriend Hector get off to a bumpy start.
But the locals’ peaceful protests against the decision turn deadly when a body is discovered on the Number 27. No one can work out how Janice Boggins met her demise, let alone how the driver didn’t notice. While the police wait for the post mortem results, Sophie immediately suspects foul play, and launches her own investigation.
Can she solve the murder before another passenger is hurt?
My Review:
This was such a fun read! Driven to Murder is a very cozy read that I jumped right into, and is just what you might be needing during this dreary season!
This is the ninth book in this series, and I have not read the other eight, BUT I don’t think this pulled away from the book. Debbie Young was able to get me, a new reader, up to speed on all the characters and the town right off the bat. I really loved that I didn’t feel left behind coming late to the series, but also I didn’t feel that she was forcing too much information at me at the beginning. So in summary of that: You can read this book without reading the beginning of the series, but this book was so fun that you might as well just start from the beginning!
I wish it jumped into the action a little earlier than it did, since the mystery doesn’t occur until about halfway through the book and then seems to go very fast. I also enjoyed Sophie as a character during the investigation since it seemed like she didn’t necessarily want to be involved, but the clues just kept coming to her so she had no other choice but to solve the murder.
I really enjoyed this book, and will definitely need to go back and read the previous books! I liked Sophie as a character, and Hector took me a little bit to like but towards the end he grew on me as well. Who knows maybe I will like him better if I read the other books, we will just have to read and find out!
Author Bio:
Debbie Young is the much-loved author of the Sophie Sayers and St Brides cosy crime mysteries. She lives in a Cotswold village where she runs the local literary festival, and has worked at Westonbirt School, both of which provide inspiration for her writing. She is bringing both her series to Boldwood in a 13-book contract. They will be publishing several new titles in each series and republishing the backlist, starting in September 2022.
It’s a normal sunny day when Mia sees her ex-boyfriend on the street where she lives. But she knows that’s crazy. She knows it can’t possibly be him. She knows… because she killed him.
Mia and Carrie have been best friends since school. They share everything: clothes, shoes, a home… and their secrets.
Only Carrie knew what Mia did that night. Where everything went wrong and Mia’s boyfriend attacked her, so she attacked him right back.
Carrie made the problem go away. Like she always would for her best friend. They’ve got on with their lives. Mia’s even met someone new – a man she thinks she could be with forever.
But now it looks like her ex is back. Alive and well. So either Mia is losing her mind, or somebody very close to her has been lying…
My Review:
The description of this book really sold me on it! I was pulled in right from the beginning from the prologue that really just caught my attention.
The main character, Mia, is battling between a lot in her life. Between Carrie not liking her new boyfriend, and Owen, the man in her apartment, giving her problems, she is incredibly on edge. But when the man she killed comes back it sends Mia into a downward spiral (as it should).
Mia is not a likable character, but throughout the book she is slightly unreliable, and I love a good unreliable narrator.
The story did kind of lose me when it talked about the dark web and paying them off for covering the murder. This didn’t seem as feasible, and the fact that Carrie is involved kind of threw me as well. Especially since there is no tracing it, but with the method of how she paid there definitely would be ways to track that down.
Other than that! The book was a mix of fast and slow pace. There were some areas where I felt so much was happening and other parts that I felt that we were waiting for what was going to happen next. I don’t think that pulled me out of the book though as the parts that were fast-paced really made me keep reading. The ending wasn’t entirely predictable but I did have an inkling of what was going to happen.
With that all being said, I did enjoy this book and recommend it for any thriller-lover who needs a fast-paced book!
Author Bio:
Joanne Ryan is the author of several well-reviewed psychological thrillers. Previously published by Tamarillas Press, she lives in Wiltshire. Her first thriller for Boldwood is Keep Your Friends Close.
I am so excited to review Murder at Merewood Hospital! I could not put this book down and hope that you all will want to read it as well!
Book Blurb:
The patients survived the Great War only to face a new danger…
In 1916, Sister Helen Hopgood was sent with a team of nurses to care for wounded soldiers at Merewood Farm, a temporary military hospital in Hampshire.
Now the war is over, only five patients remain – and she is the only nurse. The last ward must close, and Helen is doing all she can to find new homes for the injured servicemen.
Joseph Wintringham has to sell the farm to keep Merewood Manor. But since the murder of Nurse Taplin, locals believe the place is cursed – perhaps by the doomed nurse or by the patients who perished from their war wounds.
Is the hospital haunted? Or is someone very real behind the unnatural deaths that begin on Midsummer’s Night 1919?
Can Helen discover the truth before it’s too late..?
My Review:
This was a book I was very excited for. I love this time period, and the concept was really intriguing. To say that this book lived up to my expectations would be an understatement. I truly enjoyed this book so much, and really enjoyed getting to know all the characters, as well as guessing who the killer was right from the beginning.
At the beginning, the characters were a little hard to nail down. Mostly because there are multiple men in the hospital as patients and it took me a little time to organize them in my head. The other reason is because of the doctor and Sister Hopgood. They are sometimes called by their title and sometimes by their first name, so this took me some time to remember who is who at the beginning. Once I got to know the characters better I did start to care for all of them, some more than others.
We jump into the drama pretty fast in the book. We hear about a murder that happened just a year prior that was never sold, and then we see a mean practical joke happen, and the reader is immediately trying to figure out the connection between the two things, and this is just the start. I enjoyed the tension, and the speed at what things were happening.
There seemed to be the perfect mix of mystery and just having dialogue and normal things with the characters. Everything blended together perfectly in a way that I really looked forward to not only getting to the bottom of the mystery but also looking forward to what was happening between the characters.
The different points of view are very interesting to me. We are seeing so many different points of view. We see them finding clues that would point to one person, or hearing a conversation that would point to another person. This was done masterfully as it kept me bouncing back and forth as to who I thought the guilty person was.
There are so many little backstories that make the reader second guess everything that they were thinking. I kept thinking I figured it out but then would get new information that would make me think it was someone else. I did have an inkling by the end of who it was, but that inkling wasn’t based on anything concrete so I wasn’t even sure of myself.
I really loved the ending. I love ending with a happy ending that is all about an empowered woman and her finding herself. That was honestly the best way to end the book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and its twists and turns. I loved getting to know the characters and getting to be at Merewood Hospital in its final days. I loved the characters and the intense mystery that I got to experience with them. I can’t wait to read more books from Michelle Salter. I highly recommend this book if you like historical fiction, mystery, or want something that you won’t be able to put down.
Ratings:
Characters: 9/10
Plot: 9.5/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Settings: 10/10
Overall: 9.375/10
Author Bio:
Michelle Salter writes historical cosy crime set in Hampshire, where she lives, and inspired by real-life events in 1920s Britain. The first book in her Iris Woodmore series, Death at Crookham Hall, draws on her interest in the aftermath of the Great War and the suffragette movement.
This stop on my Pulitzer Prize books we have the Rabbit Run books. Out of the four books in the series the last two got Pulitzer Prizes, which after reading all the books I feel like those were the ones, if any, that did deserve the prize.
I read the first book when I saw that the third and fourth book would need to be read in order to read all the Pulitzer Prize books. I almost gave up on the Pulitzer Prize books with how much I hated the first Rabbit Run book. It felt like pulling teeth trying to get through it and I really didn’t think I would make it.
I have heard from many people that the first book is great, or that the series is all-around a great series, but I had a really hard time enjoying the books. Harry, or Rabbit, is the person that we follow throughout the whole four books spanning over most of his life and the life of his family. The issue with Harry is that he is a horrible person. That part is not up for debate, it’s just a complete fact.
Now, we don’t have to trust the main character and we don’t have to like the main character but we do need to like hearing about what they are doing and what’s happening in order to read a book, and for me I couldn’t care less what was happening to Harry throughout the books. It was really hard for me to read these books knowing that I was going to have to keep hearing about Harry and all the awful things he was doing.
This made sympathizing and empathizing with him really hard to do, and honestly, I don’t think I was able to even do that until the fourth book which is way too far into a series for the reader to care about the main character at all.
Another main issue is that there wasn’t a single other character that I liked. It is actually incredible to read a four book series and to not like a single character. I do think that if I wasn’t reading along with the audiobooks I probably wouldn’t have finished the series, but I will say that I think the last book did serve up some poetic justice as best as it could.
Harry has been putting himself in situations the whole series, and while there are consequences they aren’t big enough to actually make Harry change his actions or his viewpoints, but in the last book his last punishment was received and it creates a full circle with how we met Harry in the first book. This part I really enjoyed, and it made me wish that I enjoyed the series more so that it would have a bigger impact on me.
I could see how people like the series since it is just full of a man making horrible decisions, which I normally am living for drama and would love this, but I feel like the things that he says, his mindset, and his actions just really didn’t do it for me. It gave me Lolita vibes, but Lolita wasn’t as graphic with the wording as Harry is in this series, maybe pushing it a little over the edge.
I’m glad I read the series, even more glad to be able to check it off of my Pulitzer Prize books list, and even more glad to be done with this series. Onto bigger and better books!
Arsenic at Ascot. I think the title of this book says it all. The title of this book is what really made me want to read this book, who can resist that title.
Book Blurb:
Saddle up for this first class historical mystery, perfect for fans of Helena Dixon and Verity Bright.
London, 1918
Fiona Figg finds herself back in Old Blighty saddled with shuffling papers for the war office. Then a mysterious card arrives, inviting her to a fancy house party at Mentmore Castle. This year’s Ascot-themed do will play host to a stable of animal defense advocates, and Fiona is tasked with infiltrating the activists and uncovering possible anti-war activity.
Disguised as the Lady Tabitha Kenworthy, Fiona is more than ready for the “mane” event, but the odds are against her when both her arch nemesis, dark-horse Fredrick Fredricks, and would-be fiancé Lieutenant Archie Somersby arrive unexpectedly and “stirrup” her plans. And when a horse doctor thuds to the floor in the next guest room, Fiona finds herself investigating a mysterious poisoning with some very hairy clues.
Can Fiona overcome the hurdles and solve both cases, or will she be pipped to the post and put out to pasture by the killer?
My Review:
Well first, we love a strong, independent, and brilliant main female character, and super exciting that she is a spy! Also, I love this period so I was very excited to jump right in. I haven’t read any of the other books as this is the fourth of the series. I am intrigued to see what my thoughts would be if I would have read the other ones.
Not reading the first three books didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the book. It may have given me some more information about Fiona from the start instead of learning as I go, but sometimes that’s a fun way to read as well!
The plot pulls you in right from the beginning. By the first page, I was already invested in the mysteriousness of Fiona’s life and the telegram. From there it only gets better as this book starts to unravel.
Fiona is a fun character who isn’t afraid to be her authentic self, especially with how much fun she has on her missions. She is funny and fun but also knows how to get down to business.
Don’t worry everyone, there is still some romance in this book, and we see how it shapes Fiona’s actions as well as adds a little something to the plot.
I read this book very fast and felt that it also read fast. I enjoyed getting lost in the historical setting of the book as well. The ending sets up the next book in the series. I will definitely be interested in continuing the series. Maybe even going back and reading the first three books in the series.
Author Bio:
Kelly Oliver is the award-winning, bestselling author of three mysteries series: The Jessica James Mysteries, The Pet Detective Mysteries, and the historical cozies The Fiona Figg Mysteries, set in WW1. She is also the Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University and lives in Nashville, Tennessee. She is bringing new titles in the Fiona Figg series to Boldwood, the first of which, Chaos in Carnegie Hall, will be published in November 2022.
Happy Sunday! Today I will be reviewing a book focused on four women and their main goal of bringing down the men in their lives that are doing them wrong. It was such a fun concept for a book, and the concept definitely lived up to my expectations!
Book Blurb:
Four women, four ways to revenge…
A Monaco insider reveals what life is like in the world’s richest and most secretive enclave, where revenge is best served with a glass of champagne.
Wedged between Southern France and the Mediterranean Sea, the miniature principality of Monaco is a place for aspiration, for comic extremes and for outrageous personalities. Where a businesswoman gets her favourite Chanel suit flown in by private jet. Where Hôtel de Paris serves breakfast to a drunken socialite in a prison cell. Where two Gucci-clad women are behind a string of burglaries.
Against a backdrop of cocktails on superyachts, looking fabulous and feeling empty, this tongue-in-cheek tale revolves around four relatable women who meet by chance in Monte Carlo. After sharing their tales of betrayal, they set up a book club as a cover while they settle each other’s scores. But revenge, like life, doesn’t always go to plan…
The book cover has been designed by one of the UK’s leading illustrators, Patrick Knowles. Knowles is best known for his cover designs for Julian Fellowes and Anthony Horowitz, as well as for Prince William and Kate’s wedding calligraphy.
My Review:
When I first read the bio I was interested to see how this book would work through four revenges throughout the book without it being rushed or some falling flat. And I will say, none of this seemed rushed and everything fell together in such a fun, and exciting way!
Our four main characters are all so completely different from each other (different classes, different attitudes) but same problems. The book starts with us seeing why they put together the “book club” and then we go back in time to see how these unlikely friends came into each other’s lives.
I do wish we would have seen more of the book club aspect. They do say book club meetings, and have a nice play on the book Count of Monte Cristo. But I kinda wish it was played on a little more, but that’s just me being picky.
It is insane that with four characters being the complete opposite of each other that I was able to enjoy all of them, and all their snarky comments. Each woman is relatable in their own ways, and I really enjoyed everyone’s point of view.
The revenge plot was very well throughout. There were so many moving parts, but as I said earlier, everything fell into place in such a great way. The book does a great job of really making you pull for the women, and then bringing down the men in their lives that are causing them problems.
I also love how a lot of the people they are enacting the revenge against are interlocked in some way. It really showcases the high-end part of Monaco and just how much power they have in the community. I loved seeing these four women (of different ages as well) ban together to figure out the best, and safest way to get their revenge and take back their lives.
This book was intriguing, fun, lighthearted, and will pull you in from the first page of the book. Be ready to be pulled into the action, but also the luxury living in Monaco. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to basically anyone. Especially people that want a girl-power book, want a good complex revenge book, or even just a well-thought out book.
Author Bio:
Anna Shilling is the collective pen name for four women who lived in Monte Carlo. A magazine editor, an aristocrat, an UHNW businesswoman and a private banker formed a book club and shared funny, shocking tales together about life in the principality. The magazine editor wove a fictional plot from their tales into this novel.
Hi everyone! I am switching it up today and am reviewing a historical gothic novel!
Book Blurb:
When Ingrid flees a violent husband to become a housekeeper in the Scottish Highlands, she discovers the family she works for has a much darker history than her own.
Who haunts Strathbairn? Why are the adult McCleod children at each other’s throats? And why does the youngest sneak off at night? As Ingrid searches for answers, she grows ever more fearful that her husband will track her down.
Set in late 19th century Scottish Highlands, WHAT HAPPENED AT THE ABBEY is a gothic mystery brimming with intrigue, ghostly drama, and family secrets.
My Review:
This book is interesting as it has many characters, and each one seems to have a secret that they need to keep hidden. I enjoyed that the reader slowly starts to find out clues, and gets bits and pieces of everyone’s background. I think that kept me really engaged to figure out all the little details.
It was slightly hard to follow since the points of views do change without warning. Some chapters are from different points of view and seem to just switch, while other times it seems to switch in the middle of chapters which made me kind of have to read certain sections over again to make sure I knew who we were with at the time.
I enjoyed the time period, as I love a good historical fiction book. I felt that the period the book was set in made total sense for the book’s plot, and also made some of the plot even more believable.
If you enjoy a good historical fiction book that has a ton of mystery in a mansion of a house, then this book is for you.
Author Bio:
Isobel Blackthorn is a prolific novelist of unique and engaging fiction. She writes across a range of genres, including gripping mysteries and dark psychological thrillers.
The Unlikely Occultist: A biographical novel of Alice A. Bailey received an Honorable Mention in the 2021 Reader’s Favorite book awards. A Prison in the Sun was shortlisted in the LGBTQ category of the 2021 International Book Awards and the 2020 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards. Her short story ‘Nothing to Declare’ was shortlisted for the Ada Cambridge Prose Prize 2019. Her dark thriller A Legacy of Old Gran Parks won a Raven Award in 2019. The Cabin Sessions was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award 2018 and the Ditmar Awards 2018.
Isobel holds a PhD in Western Esotericism from the University of Western Sydney for her ground-breaking study of the texts of Theosophist Alice A. Bailey. Her engagement with Alice Bailey’s life and works has culminated in the biographical novel The Unlikely Occultist and the full biography Alice A. Bailey: Life and Legacy.
Isobel carries a lifelong passion for the Canary Islands, Spain, her former home. Six of her novels are set on the islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. These standalone mystery novels are setting rich and fall into the broad genre of travel fiction.
Isobel has led a rich and interesting life and her stories are as diverse as her experiences, the highs and lows, and the dramas. A life-long campaigner for social justice, Isobel has written, protested and leant her weight to a range of issues including asylum seekers and family violence. A Londoner originally, Isobel currently lives in the Canary Islands, Spain.
Happy Publication Day to Christmas at the Cabin! I am super excited to write this review on its publication date, so I hope you all enjoy my review. This is actually the second book I have read from Rebecca Boxall. I actually wrote a review for Christmas by the Lighthouse which can be found here: https://readitandweepwithmgd.home.blog/2019/12/03/review-of-christmas-by-the-lighthouse/
Christmas by the Lighthouse was also one of the first books I reviewed on this blog, so I was very excited to go back to Rebecca Boxall’s writing, and this book did not disappoint.
I had high hopes for this book, and I did feel like it reached my expectations. With Christmas by the Lighthouse I was really thrown off that the book wasn’t all about Christmas (still loved the book, actually still think about it every once in a while!), so with Christmas at the Cabin not being fully about Christmas I was slightly more prepared for it.
Book Blurb:
A festive, coming-of-age tale about an Oxbridge candidate and a young homeless man who find themselves in the bittersweet predicament of falling in love with exactly the right person at exactly the wrong time.
Well-to-do Jed never imagined he’d end up homeless, but family circumstances have made it his only option. Local vicar, Ben, tries to help him but there’s an element of self-punishment to the homelessness that makes Jed continue to put up with his situation – until disaster leads him to re-consider the vicar’s offer of a place to stay.
Hattie is on the cusp of adulthood, frantically trying to persuade her mum that she doesn’t want to attend an elite university, preferring the idea of pursuing her love of art and textiles. When she meets Jed, she badly wants to understand his circumstances and why, when she has everything at her fingertips, he doesn’t.
Hattie’s mum, Christine, has had a hard life and is desperate for more for her only child. When she meets Ben, the vicar who’s trying to help Jed, she finds an unlikely ally, and the two heartbroken souls find themselves drawn to each other. Until they find their relationship suddenly tested to the limit.
One thing’s for certain: none of these characters is looking forward to Christmas. It’s the worst time of year for each of them, for different reasons. But perhaps this year, the festive season could defy all expectations.
My review:
I’m not going to lie, Jed’s story kind of broke me. And of course, it was halfway through the book, so by the time I read his story I was already connected to him as a character. And then by the end you find out the rest of his story along with him, and your heart breaks once again.
This book also had something unique about it… It had four points of views: Hallie, Christine (her mother), Jed (the boy she likes), and Ben (the man her mom likes). It is a very interesting idea that we are seeing two budding relationships that are intertwined in such a unique way. I really enjoyed seeing Christine slightly battle with overcoming her insecurities and falling for the vicar while watching her daughter also overcome her insecurities.
I will say it took me maybe two or three chapters to get used to all the characters, which when you are introducing four different characters, three chapters is not a long time to get a grasp on the characters.
I loved all the characters and their complexities, understanding each other’s pasts, as they all have hardships that they are overcoming. Finding solace in each other, and seeing the characters building each other up was very heartwarming throughout the book. I also feel like each person’s past comes back in unique ways that they are able to rely on each other to get them through their new obstacle. I loved this aspect, as it didn’t feel forced in any of their situations and just added to me loving the characters even more.
The book doesn’t start during Christmas time, it actually only ends during Christmas which by the end it makes sense why the title of the book is the title. I don’t think I would classify it as a Christmas book, but the book was great nonetheless.
This book is such a comfy read, and I really enjoyed it and read it in one sitting. It is a shorter book, but I loved it for that. I felt the length of the book was perfect, and I thought the pace throughout the book was spot on for what I would have wanted with a shorter book.
I recommend this book to anyone that wants a fun, but touching book. Anyone that wants a book to curl up with as the temperatures get colder. Or even anyone that wants to try a new genre but doesn’t know where to start.
Author Bio:
Rebecca Boxall is the award-nominated author of five bestselling novels – Christmas at the Vicarage, Home for Winter, Christmas on the Coast, The Christmas Forest and Christmas by the Lighthouse. She is also the author of Christmas at the Farmhouse and her popular short story, A Winter’s Day.
Rebecca Boxall was born in East Sussex in 1977 and grew up in a bustling vicarage always filled with family, friends and parishioners. She now lives by the sea in Jersey with her family and Rodney the cat. She read English at the University of Warwick before she trained as a lawyer and more recently worked at a psychiatric unit.
She is the No. 1 bestselling author of Christmas at the Vicarage and Christmas on the Coast as well as the bestselling writer of Home for Winter, The Christmas Forest and Christmas by the Lighthouse, in respect of which she was nominated for the Romantic Novel Awards in 2020. She is also the author of Christmas at the Farmhouse and her popular short story, A Winter’s Day.
Hi all! Looks like we are jumping from thrillers and mysteries straight into the Christmas spirit for now! We just put up our Christmas tree and Christmas decorations so it is perfect timing to get into the Christmas spirit!
Book Blurb:
They didn’t forecast this!
When charismatic and handsome weather presenter Marcus Bowman walks back into Willow Roxburgh’s life three weeks before Christmas, her quiet job as an admin worker at the Old Schoolhouse residential care centre in Glenbriar is shattered. He’s not only the man she used to crush on, he’s also the one who thwarted her TV forecasting dreams.
But she’s no longer the anonymous studio assistant; she’s secretly Scotland’s new favourite weather forecaster, Rocky Rainman.
With the Schoolhouse facing closure, Marcus is on an assignment to drum up festive support. However, he’s discovered the internet sensation Rocky Rainman lives somewhere nearby and is determined to expose him after Rocky’s recent damaging comments on social media. Seeing Willow, the girl he used to obsess over, shakes his priorities.
When a blizzard hits, Willow and Marcus are snowed in, and she discovers her perception of him wasn’t as accurate as her forecasts. Marcus isn’t convinced it’ll be a white Christmas, but he’s determined to win Willow’s heart. Can their new love weather storm if he discovers her secret? Because how can there be a future for Marcus Bowman and Rocky Rainman?
My Review:
To start, the cover was the draw in for me in wanting to read and review this book. It is just gorgeous! The other reason I really wanted to read this book is that I love a good Hallmark-like book, and this was definitely that.
Both main characters, Marcus and Willow, both have different strengths, except for one, they are both great at predicting the weather. I love a good enemies to lovers, which I feel like this book has. We know from the start, with the dual points of view that both characters have feelings for each other, but due to some miscommunication there seems to be some resentment, at least from Willow’s side.
The internal crisis that we see Willow go through when Marcus comes into her life really showcases her feelings for Marcus but also what the miscommunication really meant to her.
Then comes in the infamous Rocky Rainman. Marcus’s new arch nemesis. Of course the reader knows who Rocky Rainman is, and it is very easy to piece it together, but of course Marcus has no idea even though it seems obvious. but of course the situation you are in never seems obvious until you finally piece it together. I really love that once Marcus figures out who Rocky Rainman is he even points fun of himself for how easy it was to figure out which I really enjoyed the realization of it.
This is a slow burn type of book, as nothing really happens, romantically, until the end. Most of the build up is seeing from both points of view what each person is feeling and the little things that they are doing for each other. I found this very endearing as it isn’t always about the romantic end, sometimes the build up is just as special as the romance itself.
It is also so important that it showcases Willow getting more and more confident with herself and her ability to get in front of a camera, one of the only things holding her back from her dream job of being a weather forecaster.
This book is so fun, light, and uplifting. I really enjoyed reading it and being a part of the Glenbriar group! The bar has been set high for hallmark-like books this year by starting with this book!
This book is the sixth book in The Glenbriar series, but all books can be read as a standalone. This is my first book in the series, and I look forward to reading all the others in the series!
Author Bio:
Margaret is a Scottish author and chocolate lover who has been writing stories for over twenty years (possibly more if you count her primary school efforts). Her early works will never see the light of day and are locked in dusty vaults on some old floppy disks. But after all those years of practise, Margaret released her first novel A Winter Haven in 2021. This is the first of a ten-book series set on the gorgeous Scottish Isle of Mull. Margaret has also written six books in The Glenbriar Series with more planned for 2024.
The stories are unashamedly romantic but with lots of drama and an eclectic mix of characters. Each book can be read as a standalone but followers of the series will enjoy catching up with the characters.
I know it’s after Halloween, but I am still keeping on with the thrillers since we know how much I love them!
Book Blurb:
She’ll do anything to protect her family…
Libby Curtis never wanted children, until she met Nathan, a gorgeous widower with two young children. Now ten years later she can’t imagine her life without Sam and Sienna – she’d do anything for her precious kids. Anything….
So when a missing teenager is found lying on the side of the road, Libby’s first thoughts are for her own kids. Are they safe? Are they home?
What Libby doesn’t expect is for her children to be involved in the girl’s disappearance. But when she discovers an item in her stepson’s car linked to the victim Libby’s fears increase.
She can’t believe that the sweet boy she’s raised could do something like that. But if not Sam….who?
Libby must discover the truth before her family is ripped apart. But someone is determined to make sure their secrets stay hidden – even if the consequences are deadly…
I am going to try to review this without giving too much away!
I feel that the truth about her family is a concept that has been done before, especially with some movies and tv shows, but it was how Ashby and Rigby did it that made it different. It wasn’t thrown in our faces, we read it, but we don’t fully understand the weight of what is happening until Libby comes to her own realization.
We all know I love to guess the end of the book, and while I got some of it right, wow did I get a big chunk of it wrong. I was mentally urging her to do one specific action and at the end I realized just how wrong I was, and that if I was in Libby’s situation and gone off of my suggestions I would not have made it!
I do love the comparison between Gemma and Libby both losing a brother, and how that impacts every decision they made throughout the book. They understand each other and that really leads to the following outcome of both what Libby did, and what Gemma chooses to ignore.
This book has many layers in the fact that you want to cheer for Libby and cheer for Gemma, but that would mean the downfall of one of them. It also shows the complex ideas of being a stepmother to teenage twins that want nothing to do with you, but you still have to protect them anyways. We see Libby fighting against what the kids want in order to protect them, but also trying to do it in a way so that the kids don’t shut her out even more.
One thing that really threw me off the first time it happened was the point of view change. We start with only seeing it through Libby’s point of view for a few chapters and then it randomly switches to Gemma. There was no preparation for that, so it took me a paragraph or two to get really confused and have to go back. Once I was used to the two perspectives it became very easy to see the difference between the two, but that first time threw me for a loop!
I really enjoyed this book, especially during the fall under some blankets. I did not guess the ending at all, which is all I want in a thriller! I dare everyone to read it and to see if they figure it out before the end.
Author Bio:
Amanda Ashby and Sally Rigby are a crime writing partnership. Both authors live in New Zealand, have been friends for eighteen years and agree about everything (except musicals). They decided to collaborate on a psychological thriller which they then entered into a competition, run by Boldwood, and which they won!
It is officially my favorite holiday, and as you guessed it I will be posting about a Halloween book, but this time I will be comparing it to the movie.
Today I will be looking at Coraline the book versus Coraline the movie. Coraline is one of the movies that I watch every year for Halloween, but I had never read the book until this year, and was shocked by some of the differences. So let’s jump in.
Something that is the same is the type of illustrations. In the book every chapter has an illustration, the drawing style is very eerie and plays into the “horror” aspect of the book. Going into the movie the look of the characters is the same, until we get to the end. The book’s illustrations, much like the movie, get scarier and scarier as the book goes on, but the book takes a darker turn with its illustrations. This could be as simple as the movie being in color, and brighter colors at that, that it seems to be less scary than the black and white of the book.
Something else about the book that is different is the fast disdain Coraline has for her other family. Within the first visit or two Coraline has caught on with the evil of the other family, whereas in the movie she visits a few times to the other world, and even tells her parents how much better it is in the other world.
One reason for this change could be that Neil Gaiman, the other, was tight on page numbers as it is listed as a young adult book and had to keep it shorter, or even that the movie had to be longer so they added in some visits to make it reach the acceptable length of a movie.
Going along with this, some of the characters, like the parents and the neighbors, are more flushed out in the movie. In the book both the parents and the neighbors are just side characters that do not have much to do other than to add little hints into what Coraline will be facing. I really enjoyed the difference in the movie as it shows how different the other world is from the real world. Both the book and the movie say that the neighbors are older, and are holding onto the past, but in the movie you see the neighbors living out their pasts and even bringing Coraline into the acts.
Something that is almost exactly the same is the cat, named Cat, that is able to go from the real world into the other world. He befriends Coraline, and helps her along the way when she starts to realize just how evil the other world is. Also, the lost children that Coraline encounters are similar but still have some changes, but nothing that is really notable. The ending is also very similar from the book to the movie, some changes but also nothing to highlight.
Something that I loved about the book, and hated that it wasn’t in the book is the existence of Wyborn. In the real world Coraline hates Wyborn, as he talks too much and always seems to be talking nonsense as his grandmother is telling him things about the evil house to Coraline but she thinks he is just being crazy. When she goes into the other world Wyborn can’t talk, this change from the real world makes Coraline and Wyborn best friends. This change is very interesting as you can see the disgust in the real world and the excitement in the other world, adding to the hatred of the real world. While this may seem like a smaller difference between the two worlds, to Coraline they make a world of a difference (literally). Coraline doesn’t have friends since she just moved and school hasn’t started yet. In the real world Coraline is playing by herself and ignoring Wyborn, the only person her age that she knows. In the other world she has a dear friend in Wyborn, and the neighbors and her parents are paying her all the attention that she is craving in the real world.
Basically, I enjoyed the movie better than the book, but I think that the book gave me an interesting perspective going into the movie this year. It was fun to see the changes that were made and trying to guess as to why they took those liberties. I do still think the book is worth reading but I don’t think I will be reading it again, although I will keep watching the movie every year.
Today I’ll be reviewing a book that has been on my list for a very long time but with how heavy the topic is I was putting it off.
Know My Name was written by Chanel Miller also known as Emily Doe. This is a case that I followed very closely when it was happening so I remembered the main events that were all over the media, but it was a completely different experience hearing it from her, and what she truly went through.
We all know about Brock Turner but Chanel stayed as Emily Doe until coming out with this book, taking her name back and also her story. The narrative was so powerful throughout the book, it is one that you have to take some breaks as she doesn’t shy around any of the details and is very open and vulnerable about what happened to her.
Something I really loved about this book is that she gives background into her family dynamic and how that affected the way she went about the trial and also how she went about her life after the event. It also gave us a deeper understanding of who she is as a person.
She revisits ideas and thoughts that she introduces us to in the beginning and connects them to how she was feeling leading up to the trial.
Chanel’s support from family and friends was truly amazing throughout the years-long process of the trial, and just getting back to a new type of normal after the event. Something else that I found really important and heartbreaking is how she goes into what the media was saying and how she specifically was portrayed in the media and during the trial. She also describes her meetings with her attorney and how she had to be very careful what information she was giving out to friends and also during her testimony.
I feel that this book is so important, not only for Chanel to take control of her story, but also for the readers. Especially for those of us that followed the trial in real time, to get her side, and to be able to fill in the blanks that we didn’t have, and in a way to get closure with Chanel.
The last thing I will say, is she talks about the meaning behind the book cover and I find that so empowering, as she did for herself as well. I recommend this book to honestly everyone, but be prepared for a pretty emotional read. I’d love to know your thoughts on the book if you read it!
I have read a few Sarah Pekkanen’s books but they were all co-written with Greer Hendricks, so this was my first book of Pekkanen that she was the sole writer. This book had so much hype around it as it had just come out on August 1 of 2023 that I was a little nervous going into it, but it did live up to the hype, but there were some problems I had with the book.
This book has two narrators, the daughter, and the mother, that live together and seem to be completely by themselves. They continue to move around and to make sure to not get close to anyone, but the daughter, Catherine, is left wondering why her life has always been in upheaval.
When the mother, Ruth, starts to show signs of early Alzheimer’s Catherine is quick to step up to take care of her mother as she works at an assisted living home and is familiar with the symptoms and how to help her mother. Catherine even puts her life on hold by turning down an amazing opportunity to move and start her career to help take care of Ruth.
When Catherine starts to question whether Ruth actually has Alzheimer’s things start to spiral down, but why would her mother fake having Alzheimer’s and how long was she going to keep it up?
The book switches between Ruth and Catherine’s point of view, and about halfway through we get Ruth’s journal of her past where things really start to come together. I loved having all three points of view, and really loved the journal sections, as per usual.
It is an interesting dynamic that we have Catherine trying to dig into Ruth’s life and in return her own life, while the reader is getting to read the journal that will someday get to go to Catherine.
The secrecy of the book just keeps building and building throughout the book until the final reveal that makes all the secrets flow until the very last page. This book is incredible at keeping me guessing.
With all the good things that I just mentioned, it’s time to talk about the issues that there were…
First is the fact that Ruth has so many lies, and different ones to different people that it is insane to think that she could keep that up and not have Catherine catch on. Especially when the lies aren’t matching and Catherine does talk to some of the people that Ruth is telling the lies to. Another big question mark I had was Catherine’s ex-boyfriend. It was an interesting plot, but I don’t think it added too much to the plot and storyline as I thought it would when the plot was first brought to our attention.
Also, there seemed to be some logical issues with some of the journal scenes that involve a Target. I can’t get too far into it without completely giving away things from Ruth’s past.
I will say, even with some of the plot issues I had I would still rate this book a four out of five stars, so I would definitely recommend it!
I truly enjoyed this book and did think that it lived up to they hype! I read it as a buddy read with two friends and we all enjoyed it and can’t wait for her next book, whether it is a solo book or co-written I will be reading it.
For Matt Forrester, The Forrester Detective Agency is going from strength to strength: they’ve expanded their office space and even hired a new office manager – a qualified and astute woman named Carol.
What starts as a simple burglary case soon turns into something darker. The victim of said burglary soon turns up dead, after engaging in threats with the local yobs she believed to have been responsible.
But it soon becomes clear that there’s more at play here, and Matt – alongside sister Hermia, partner Steve, and life partner Karen – will have to put all their skills to the test, even if it puts them in danger…
My Review:
This is the second book of the Forrester Detective Agency series. I honestly think I enjoyed reading the second book first. I know that sounds backwards but I feel like this book explained the background of the first pretty well and it did not slow me down with learning and caring for the characters.
The book was so fast to give us all the characters in a way that all the connections felt genuine and I cared for them almost immediately. Also, the development of the characters and the dynamics between them was done so well that it just all flowed so well.
Now for the actual plot. There were so many subplots, all connecting in some way or another. This was done so well that every single chapter was interesting and wanted me to keep reading. I was blowing through the book so fast, just getting lost in it. There was not a single second in the book where I was bored, and it really kept me guessing where the subplots were going to lead and what was going to happen. This was truly an enjoyable read and I highly recommend it!
Of course it left on a cliffhanger, so I am sure all the readers will be eagerly waiting for the next book! But that’s good new for you since now you can start the series and be ready for when that new book comes out!
Author’s Bio:
Anita Waller is the author of many bestselling psychological thrillers and the Kat and Mouse crime series. She lives in Sheffield, which continues to be the setting of many of her thrillers.
Second Chances in Bellbird Bay: A captivating story to tug on your heartstrings
Following her divorce, Greta Roberts has found solace running Birds of a Feather, an upmarket boutique in the seaside town of Bellbird Bay. But when a ghost from her past reappears, Greta’s peaceful, single life is sent into a spin.
Leo Carlson has built an empire of hotels and resorts but has never forgotten the perfect summer he spent in Bellbird Bay in his teens. When the opportunity to purchase a hotel there arises, he finds it difficult to pass it up.
Meeting again, Greta and Leo are quick to discover they are different people from the young couple who kissed on the beach and vowed to love each other for ever. Beset with challenges which threaten to keep them apart, can Bellbird Bay work its magic and provide these two with a second chance at love?
My review:
To start, I have read/reviewed multiple books from this series, and I have enjoyed every one of them!
Greta and Leo fell in love years ago during a summer break, but a summer they obviously have never forgotten. We see both of how their lives are and how their thoughts, especially Leo’s, keeps bringing them back to that summer.
Not only are we paying attention to Greta, but we are also looking at Greta’s daughter Jo and trying to figure out what brought her back to Bellbird Bay when she was having such a great time traveling.
The love between Leo and Greta is still there and still as strong, if not more (the heart grows fonder with distance), but are they too different of people now compared to the last time they saw each other.
This book threw every obstacle it could at Leo and Greta, from distance and the changes they made as people, to a daughter interfering, to two ex’s entering the equation.
I also really enjoyed the idea of both people being their own boss and how that changes their dynamic. I also really liked Leo being the outsider but also being a welcome back guest. The dynamic between Leo and the other people in the town was really intriguing to me as some people remembered him and were happy to see him while others were having problems with him being there and changing their town.
As always, these books are amazing as each book follows someone else in this cute town. So there is no need to read these books in order. If one strikes your fancy more than another one, then start there. But don’t forget to go back and read the others!
Author bio:
After a career in education, Maggie Christensen began writing contemporary women’s fiction portraying mature women facing life-changing situations, and historical fiction set in her native Scotland. Her travels inspire her writing, be it her trips to visit family in Scotland, in Oregon, USA or her home on Queensland’s beautiful Sunshine Coast. Maggie writes of mature heroines coming to terms with changes in their lives and the heroes worthy of them. Maggie has been called the queen of mature age fiction and her writing has been described by one reviewer as like a nice warm cup of tea. It is warm, nourishing, comforting and embracing.
From the small town in Scotland where she grew up, Maggie was lured to Australia by the call to ‘Come and teach in the sun’. Once there, she worked as a primary school teacher, university lecturer and in educational management. Now living with her husband of over thirty years on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, she loves walking on the deserted beach in the early mornings and having coffee by the river on weekends. Her days are spent surrounded by books, either reading or writing them – her idea of heaven!
Two Kingdoms destined for war, one boy caught in the eye of the storm…
Francia AD853
After a failed Viking raid on the Frankish coast over 20-years-ago, Jarl Sven the Boar is forced to leave his only son, Torkel, as a hostage and warned never to raid Francia again or his son will die.
In Hügelburg, a small town in East Francia, Torkel and his 9-year-old son Charles are ambushed at home.
Before dying, Torkel thrusts a package into young Charles’s hands and tells him to flee Francia for Denmark in search of his grandfather Sven the Boar’s protection.
But the man Charles eventually finds is not who he expects, and Charles must put his fate in the hands of a man betrayed by Odin.
Together they must uncover the significance of the package and why the Kings of Francia want Charles dead.
My Review:
Alrighty, so this isn’t necessarily the type I would pick up, BUT I’m trying to step out of my comfort zone!
Anyways! This is a time period that I am pretty excited to learn about. I knew that this time period was known for their fights, and their “manly” men, and was ready for that. I feel that many books shy away from the battles as they are hard to write and create that picture in the readers mind, but I feel that Cook was able to accomplish a great balance between fighting and the actual storyline.
Because of the balance of the book and the story itself, I felt that this was a fast-paced book. I also love that the reader can piece together what the secrets are, and are in on the secrets before the the characters are, creating a unification between readers and the storyline.
This book the first in the series, so if you are interested in a book set in this time period (which can be hard to find a good one), want one with some violence, or just want a fast-paced book that will keep you on your toes, then this is your book!
Author Bio:
Donovan Cook is the author of the well-received Ormstunga Saga series which combines fast-paced narrative with meticulously researched history of the Viking world, and is inspired by his interest in Norse Mythology. He lives in Lancashire and his first title in a new series for Boldwood will be published in Spring 2023.
Hi everyone! Super excited to write this review for The Last Good Summer by J.J. Green!
Book Blurb:
The Last Good Summer
In the summer of 1986, Belle McGee is thirteen. The arrival of Fionn Power at her family home sets in motion a tragic chain of events.
Now a forty-something investigative journalist living in Dublin, Belle returns home one night to find Fionn standing in the hallway before inexplicably vanishing. Unsettled, Belle immediately phones her sister, who tells her that Fionn was found dead that very morning.
In her journey to find answers, Belle exposes corruption and scandal and is forced to stop running from the shameful truth of 1986.
My Review:
Well to start, I love a good dual timeline, especially when it’s past to present! I feel like it was written in a way that I was never confused or lost during the dual timeline. The reader founds out details when needed and in a way that it is kind of sprinkled into the narration and not in your face. The reader is left to peace things together, or to come to the realization themselves.
Also, we love a good strong female lead. She was written in a way that made her so strong, smart, and just a great main character. I loved following her on her investigation, especially as things started to unravel!
Something that is also really important to note is that one timeline is 1986 and the other is present day. J.J. Green is able to bounce between the two timelines so well, and really emphasis the differences in the world between the two timelines so it is apparent to the reader and also so much more realistic for the reader.
I wouldn’t necessarily categorize this book as a thriller per say, but it definitely left me guessing, had some turns I wasn’t expecting, and was an all-around great read. I definitely recommend this book to anyone needing a little suspense, anyone that wants a fast read, anyone that loves when consequences catches up to people, and also even if you love cold cases (in a sense).
Author Bio:
J. J. Green is an Irish writer who hails from Donegal and lives in Derry. She’s had a passion for writing fiction from childhood and has honed her creative writing skills throughout her adult life. As a social and environmental activist, she also writes non-fiction in the form of political essays that mainly focus on economic and environmental injustice. The Last Good Summer is her debut novel.
Thirty-five years ago, tragedy forced Bev Cooper to cut short her university studies and seek refuge in her hometown of Bellbird Bay. Today, as the owner of the thriving Pandanus Garden Centre and Café, Bev has moved beyond the past and is happy in her solitary existence.
Following the tragic death of his son’s wife, Iain Grant takes early retirement and moves with his devastated son and granddaughter to the peaceful coastal town of Bellbird Bay hoping it will provide the change of scene they all desperately need.
When Iain’s son accepts a position at Bev’s garden centre, the pair find themselves drawn into each other’s lives. But as they begin to enjoy an unexpected attraction, issues from the past threaten to derail their growing relationship.
Will the healing atmosphere of Bellbird Bay work its magic and provide a second chance in life, or will Bev find it too difficult to put the past behind her and enjoy her own happy ever after?
A heartwarming tale of family, friends, and how a second chance at love can happen when you least expect it.
My review:
This is not my first time reading a book in this amazing series. I’ve actually reviewed one of the older books on this blog: link here! The setting is a cute small town, which is something I completely love in books. I love the small town feel that everyone knows everyone. But then in comes Iain and his family. There is obviously a lot of curiosity around them since they are new and what else is there to talk about in a small town (haha).
Iain is trying to get his son and granddaughter to start over after a tragic accident. Bev is still living through her tragic accident from 25 years ago. We see Bev start out as a closed off woman. Yes, she had friends but none of her closest friends even knew what happened to her, and how it is affecting her life.
It takes Bev taking a chance on Iain’s son, Bryan, to start to open up. Bryan was very open about the move to Bellbird Bay and what happened to his wife to make Bev open up to her friends about what happened in her past.
I love the friend dynamic that even though Bev isn’t open with her friends they are still supportive and are willing to hear her out anytime that she is ready to talk. And the same goes for Bev, she doesn’t let her past stop her for being happy for her friends.
We also see the change in Bryan of taking back his life. We see him grow throughout his stay at this town. We see him start to make friends, start to exercise and get friends that way, get a job with Bev, and really jump back into a father role with his daughter, Mia.
We also see Iain claim back some of his life with being able to help Bev with her venue for a wedding at her store. We see just how easily he slides back into taking control in an architectural way. And of course we see the relationship between Iain and Bev start to flourish. This brings back a lot of feelings for Bev, she is confused, worried she is betraying her past love, but is she willing to give love a try again?
I love that Bev and Iain are the main love interest. At first I thought it might have been Bryan but I felt like that would have been very weird especially with him just losing his wife (and of course the age difference). But I love the idea of the dad that gave up everything to help his family is now getting rewarded with love. I also love how patient and understanding Iain is, and I love how Bev overthinks everything! She is so realistic and just a great character to get inside her head.
This book is a feel-good book (we all know I love those), that is such an easy read. There are a lot of coincidences in this book that everything just aligns, but I don’t think that’s a problem if you are reading this book just for fun and to have a nice read. I love the love story here and how it is complicated. It’s not simple but nothing ever is, and I love how everyone is willing to fight in this book for what they want/need in their lives.
The support these characters receive and that they give is just amazing and I truly loved being in Bellbird Bay again!
Author’s Bio:
After a career in education, Maggie Christensen began writing contemporary women’s fiction portraying mature women facing life-changing situations, and historical fiction set in her native Scotland. Her travels inspire her writing, be it her trips to visit family in Scotland, in Oregon, USA or her home on Queensland’s beautiful Sunshine Coast. Maggie writes of mature heroines coming to terms with changes in their lives and the heroes worthy of them. Maggie has been called the queen of mature age fiction and her writing has been described by one reviewer as like a nice warm cup of tea. It is warm, nourishing, comforting and embracing.
From the small town in Scotland where she grew up, Maggie was lured to Australia by the call to ‘Come and teach in the sun’. Once there, she worked as a primary school teacher, university lecturer and in educational management. Now living with her husband of over thirty years on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, she loves walking on the deserted beach in the early mornings and having coffee by the river on weekends. Her days are spent surrounded by books, either reading or writing them – her idea of heaven!
Today I am reviewing A Notable Omission by Isabella Muir.
Book Description:
A 1970s debate on equality is overshadowed by a deadly secret…
Spring 1970. Sussex University is hosting a debate about equality for women. But when one of the debating group goes missing, attention turns away from social injustice to something more sinister.
It seems every one of the group has something to hide, and when a second tragedy occurs, two of the delegates – amateur sleuth Janie Juke, and reporter Libby Frobisher – are prepared to make themselves unpopular to flush out the truth. Who is lying and why?
Alongside the police investigation, Janie and Libby are determined to prise answers from the tight-lipped group, as they find themselves in a race against time to stop another victim being targeted.
In A Notable Omission we meet Janie at the start of a new decade. When we left Janie at the end of The Invisible Case she was enjoying her new found skills and success as an amateur sleuth. Here we meet her a few months later, stealing a few days away from being a wife and mother, attending a local conference on women’s liberation to do some soul-searching…
My Review:
Alrighty! Let’s jump right to my review! This book is definitely a fast read, I read it in two days and really enjoyed it!
This book has a ton of twist and turns in it, that really kept me guessing. Something that really stood out to me is that the mystery is so early in the book, you are still getting to know the characters when one goes missing.
At first I wasn’t sure how that was going to work, but I truly loved that about this book. The reader is able to see how everyone is reacting to everything being said, and the fact that one of them is missing. The idea that everyone has something to hide and the only way to piece everything together is by the little slips that most people would miss in an everyday conversation.
Something that I truly love about this book is that although the two main characters, Libby and Janie are really into mysteries and solving crimes they aren’t technically the ones solving the crime. They are able to help the detectives but they are not the people that single-handedly solve the crime. This was so much more realistic to me. I also really enjoyed that we got the detectives perspectives a few times. This gave the reader an “in” on both the detectives side and the information that Libby and Janie know.
Even with the reader having all this information the ending STILL surprised me, but once everything unravels it all starts to make sense (Obviously I can’t say too much without spoilers).
This book takes place over just a few days but I feel like that is just enough time to see all the characters stories and pasts unravel before them. Enough time to make everyone a suspect, but also enough time to question everything you may have thought you knew about each character.
I really enjoyed this book full of secrets, and enjoyed digging deeper with Janie and Libby. I recommend this to anyone that wants to read a mystery that they won’t figure out, or a book that you can read during the weekend while relaxing before a busy work week.
Isabella is never happier than when she is immersing herself in the sights, sounds and experiences of family life in southern England in past decades – specifically those years from the Second World War through to the early 1970s. Researching all aspects of life back then has formed the perfect launch pad for her works of fiction. It was during two happy years working on and completing her MA in Professional Writing when Isabella rekindled her love of writing fiction and since then she has gone on to publish seven novels, six novellas and two short story collections.
This latest novel, A Notable Omission, is the fourth book in her successful Sussex Crime Mystery series, featuring young librarian and amateur sleuth, Janie Juke. The early books in the series are set in the late 1960s in the fictional seaside town of Tamarisk Bay, where we meet Janie, who looks after the mobile library. She is an avid lover of Agatha Christie stories – in particular Hercule Poirot. Janie uses all she has learned from the Queen of Crime to help solve crimes and mysteries. This latest novel in the series is set along the south coast in Brighton in early 1970, a time when young people were finding their voice and using it to rail against social injustice.
As well as four novels, there are six novellas in the series, set during the Second World War, exploring some of the back story to the Tamarisk Bay characters.
Isabella’s love of Italy shines through all her work and, as she is half-Italian, she has enjoyed bringing all her crime novels to an Italian audience with Italian translations, which are very well received.
Isabella has also written a second series of Sussex Crimes, set in the sixties, featuring retired Italian detective, Giuseppe Bianchi, who is escaping from tragedy in Rome, only to arrive in the quiet seaside town of Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, to come face-to-face with it once more.
Isabella’s standalone novel, The Forgotten Children, deals with the emotive subject of the child migrants who were sent to Australia – again focusing on family life in the 1960s, when the child migrant policy was still in force.
Welcome back to another Christmas review! Christmas is coming so now it is really fitting to review A Little Christmas Panto by Angela Britnell!
Book Blurb:
Can a little Cornish village panto convince a troubled Hollywood heart throb to act again?
Oh no it won’t! At least that’s what Zach Broussard initially thinks when the eccentric Anna Teague tries to railroad him into helping out with her community pantomime production in the run-up to Christmas. Zach has his reasons for leaving Hollywood behind, and his retreat to the remote village of Polcarne in Cornwall signals the start of a new acting free life for him.
But when Zach meets Anna’s daughter, Rosey – an ex concert pianist who has swapped Mozart for panto tunes – he starts to wonder whether he could change his mind, and not just about acting.
If nothing else, will the residents of Polcarne ensure Zach has a Christmas he never forgets?
Oh yes they will!
My Review:
First, this is the prettiest cover I have ever seen! I am completely obsessed with it!
Like most Christmas books we have the main character, a male that is starting brand new in a new, picturesque town. One unique quality that really pulled me in is the comedic aspect that is sprinkled throughout the whole book.
Something that I loved about this book, is that the characters are realistic. I’m not questioning their motives or why they are starting over. I also love the idea that the characters are bonding over something that is for the community, I loveeee that set up especially in Christmas movies.
I also love the small town feel to the book. The idea that the community also plays a role in the book is something that I really enjoy. It helps the reader really dive into the small town, picturesque setting that the author has created. Not only is the reader being told it’s a small town, but Britnell shows that to us by bringing them into the narrative!
This is a book that you can easily sit down and devour, which are my favorite types of books. Especially with the holiday seasons coming up, this is the perfect book to sit by a fire with some hot chocolate and a blanket and fall in love with a small town!
Author Bio:
Angela grew up in Cornwall, England and returns frequently from her home outside of Nashville, Tennessee to visit family and friends, drink tea and eat far too many Cornish pasties!
A lifelong love of reading turned into a passion for writing contemporary romance and her novels are usually set in the many places she’s visited or lived on her extensive travels. Thanks to almost four decades of marriage to her wonderful American husband she’s a huge fan of transatlantic romance and always makes sure her characters get their own happy-ever-after.
She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association. Her first novel ‘Truth and Consequence’ was published in 2006 and she’s now had over 40 novels published internationally and multiple short stories in women’s magazines.
Another Christmas review! Are we surprised? Definitely not!
Book Blurb:
Libby Walker never imagined she’d be moving into the dream house she and her husband had purchased for their retirement as a widow. Intent on making a new life for herself in the quiet coastal town of Bellbird Bay, Libby’s life is upended by an unexpected call from her daughter.
Adam Holland’s unhappy childhood and broken home has left him scarred. Content with the life he has built for himself as a journalist and author of political thrillers, Adam arrives in Bellbird Bay to fulfil the deathbed request of an old friend.
When Libby and Adam meet, there is an initial attraction. But Libby is grieving for her late husband and trying to help her daughter sort out her life, and Adam has no intention of forming a relationship, wary of commitment because of how his family was torn apart.
Will the peace and tranquillity of Bellbird Bay help these two move on from old hurts and make this a Christmas to remember, or will events conspire to keep them apart?
A heartwarming tale of family, friends, and how a second chance at love can happen when you least expect it.
My Review:
I think that it is important to note that this book does not focus only on romantic relationships but also on the mother daughter relationship between Libby and Emma. I loved seeing Libby have such a dynamic character between her family relationship and the romantic aspect she never saw coming.
This book is also the fourth book in the Bellbird Bay series, but you don’t need to read to necessarily read them in order.
I will also say that Maggie Christensen didn’t right just a Hallmark movie but also added in some twists that sometimes made my jaw drop. She weaved the romance, pretty setting, great characters with some drama so well!
I don’t read very many second-chance at love books, but I really enjoyed seeing Libby find herself and really let herself heal, and find love in this book. I look forward to reading the first books in this series.
Something else that really stood out to me was how mature and down to earth these characters were. There were no parts where I questioned a character or what the character was doing. I felt that each character was so realistic in their character traits that you really just find yourself lost in the text. Which is the best feeling!
Author Bio:
After a career in education, Maggie Christensen began writing contemporary women’s fiction portraying mature women facing life-changing situations, and historical fiction set in her native Scotland. Her travels inspire her writing, be it her trips to visit family in Scotland, in Oregon, USA or her home on Queensland’s beautiful Sunshine Coast. Maggie writes of mature heroines coming to terms with changes in their lives and the heroes worthy of them. Maggie has been called the queen of mature age fiction and her writing has been described by one reviewer as like a nice warm cup of tea. It is warm, nourishing, comforting and embracing.
From the small town in Scotland where she grew up, Maggie was lured to Australia by the call to ‘Come and teach in the sun’. Once there, she worked as a primary school teacher, university lecturer and in educational management. Now living with her husband of over thirty years on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, she loves walking on the deserted beach in the early mornings and having coffee by the river on weekends. Her days are spent surrounded by books, either reading or writing them – her idea of heaven!
Hello everyone! I have another blog review of The Scam by Evie Hunter!
Book Blurb:
No one can be trusted….
Amongst the wealth and glitter of St Tropez, Sky Kennedy is living her best life, with the perfect man by her side. Rich and gorgeous, Karim has shown her a world she could have barely imagined, and she doesn’t want it to end.
So when Karim suddenly sends her packing back to the UK, Sky is shocked – what could she have done to upset Karim? And will she ever see him again?
Ryan Callahan has been tracking Karim for years and will do anything to bring the man down. He knows Karim is using Sky for his own ends and can’t believe another young woman has fallen for Karim’s lies. But maybe Sky could be the perfect bait to snare Karim once and for all…
But Sky’s no fool and she won’t be played by either man. Because maybe there is a twist in this tale that no one saw coming….
My Review:
For starters, who doesn’t love a fast-paced story that keeps you locked in the whole time?
I feel that this book is one that while you are reading you are trying to piece the pieces together to make a full image. I love that the reader is seeing all of the information unravel before them and is able to kind of figure out what is happening for themselves.
With the way that Hunter writes, the reader can vividly see everything that is happening, from the scenes to the amazing destinations they characters are at. We all know how much I love imagery in books!
I love that there is romance but that it isn’t the whole book, it is actually a decently small section of the book that makes those scenes so much more important and also just sticks with the reader so much more.
What really sticks with the reader is the twists and turns that each character is facing in any given chapter. Hunter is able to build the suspense, romance, and thrill into each chapter and really make the reader dive head first into this fast-paced book.
I recommend this book to anyone that needs a great fast-paced book, likes some suspense with some romance, or needs a book where you don’t know who to trust!
Author Bio:
Evie Hunter has written a great many successful regency romances as Wendy Soliman and is now redirecting her talents to produce dark gritty thrillers for Boldwood. For the past twenty years she has lived the life of a nomad, roaming the world on interesting forms of transport, but has now settled back in the UK.
She can’t abide Christmas. He’s not sure what it’s all about. Together they’re in for a festive surprise.
Ambitious software developer Holly may have a festive name but the connection ends there. She despises the holiday season and decides to flee to the remote island of Mull in a bid to escape from it.
Syrian refugee Farid has made a new home in Scotland but he’s lonely. Understanding Nessie and Irn Bru is one thing, but when glittery reindeer and tinsel hit the shelves, he’s completely bemused. Determined to understand a new culture, he asks his new neighbour to educate him on all things Christmas.
When Holly reluctantly agrees, he realises there’s more to her hatred of mince pies and mulled wine than meets the eye. Farid makes it his mission to inject some joy into Hollys’ life but falling for her is an unexpected gift that was never on his list.
As their attraction sparkles, can Christmas work its magic on Holly and Farid, or will their spark fizzle out with the end of December?
My Review:
This book takes place in Scotland, which sadly, I don’t think I have read too many books based in Scotland so this was a nice change for me! With that being said, the scenery was gorgeous described throughout this whole book.
We all know I love a good Christmasy romance, and this book gave me everything I could have needed in a Christmas romance. I love that Farid wants to understand Christmas and just his whole storyline. He is an a completely new world to him and must learn all of these new traditions that everyone seems to have that he doesn’t understand.
And of course Holly that doesn’t like Christmas but is willing to strike up a deal with Farid. These two unlikely companions meet in the middle and end up falling for each other. Is this book kind of predictable? Yes. Is that what I want with my Christmas books? Yes. I really enjoyed this book and the two main characters and the challenges that they are both facing and trying to overcome with each other.
I recommend this book to anyone that wants a fun Christmas read, a romance, or just wants a light-hearted book to read.
Picture of author, Margaret Amatt
Author Bio:
Margaret is a writer, mummy, wife and chocolate eater (in any order you care to choose). She lives in highland Perthshire in a little house close to the woods where she often sees red squirrels, deer and other such tremendously Scottish wildlife… Though not normally haggises or even men in kilts!
She has published nine books and written many more. Margaret won a short story writing competition in 2012 and her winning entry was performed live to an audience at Pitlochry Festival Theatre as part of their Winter Words Event. This spring boarded Margaret’s journey from writing for fun to novel writing – though she still enjoys every minute of it.
Margaret is also a keen amateur photographer, who enjoys drawing, reading, and talking about books.
Hello all! Today I am reviewing Spruced Up For Murder by Helen Golden!
Book blurb:
Death at Francis Court Now Confirmed as Murder!
Speculation is rife that the victim, estate manager Alex Sterling (44), was found by Lady Beatrice (35), the Countess of Rossex, niece of King James. Lady Beatrice, who has finally come out of hiding following her son’s departure to boarding school, has been managing the project to refurbish and redesign the Events Suite at Francis Court, alongside Perry Juke.
Heading up the murder investigation is Detective Chief Inspector Richard Fitzwilliam. Rumour has it that he and Lady Beatrice have a fractious history…
Awful man! How dare Fitzwilliam suggest Lady Beatrice’s sister is the number one suspect for Alex’s murder. It could be any one of the staff who were on-site that morning. Well, she’ll show Mr High and Mighty Fitzwilliam! With her attention to detail, her clever dog Daisy, Perry’s imagination, and his partner’s contacts at Fenshire CID, they’ll find the murderer before him.
Unless the murderer finds her first…
Cover of Spruced Up for Murder
My Review:
Well first, I must say that I love the cover of this book! And of course, that I love a good whodunnit!
I have one issue with whodunnit’s and it is that most of them I know who did it way before I’m supposed to, but this one kept me on my toes and I can honestly say I didn’t know who had done it, which is amazing! The clues were dropped within the text so well that it didn’t pull much attention to them but instead blended in with the rest of the context.
One thing that really stands out about this whodunnit is the time period. This is unlike most whodunnit’s where they take place before internet and cell phones. This book is contemporary and the characters have to battle against cell phones, and the press. Golden does a great job of integrating these components into the book and really showing how they affect all the characters.
I really enjoyed this new approach to the whodunnit type of book and look forward to the rest of the series!
Photo of Helen Golden, author of Spruced Up For Murder
Author Bio:
Hello. I’m Helen Golden. I write British contemporary cozy whodunnits with a hint of humour. I live in small village in Lincolnshire in the UK with my husband, my step-daughter, her two cats, our two dogs, sometimes my step-son, and our tortoise.
I used to work in senior management, but after my recent job came to a natural end I had the opportunity to follow my dreams and start writing. It’s very early in my life as an author, but so far I’m loving it.
It’s crazy busy at our house, so when I’m writing I retreat to our caravan (an impulsive lockdown purchase) which is mostly parked on our drive. When I really need total peace and quiet, I take it to a lovely site about 15 minutes away and hide there until my family runs out of food or clean clothes
If there is one thing you all know about me, it’s that I love a Christmas rom-com! Today I am bringing to you an amazing Christmas rom-com, The Twelve Wishes of Christmas by Ruby Basu. Keep reading for the blurb, my review, and links for the author and purchase links.
Book Blurb:
She’s here for the perfect Christmas escape…
When Sharmila discovers her late friend, Thomas, has gifted her the holiday of her dreams, she can’t pack her bags fast enough. Arriving in Pineford, it’s everything she’d ever hoped for and more.
But she’s in for another surprise, because Thomas has left her with one last request: if she completes his Christmas wish list of festive activities, her chosen charity will receive a big donation. Or so Sharmila thinks.
…He’s there to reclaim his family’s legacy
Little does she know, she’s set to inherit Thomas’s estate too, much to his nephew Zach’s disbelief. Determined not to see his family’s legacy left to a stranger, he’s come to Pineford to do whatever it takes to stop Sharmila from fulfilling that list.
When Sharmila and Zach meet, neither are prepared for sparks to fly. For Sharmila’s sworn off love, and Zach doesn’t trust her. But with every passing wish they find themselves growing closer. And amongst the twinkling town lights and fallen snow, Sharmila can feel her heart opening up to Zach. But when she learns he’s been keeping a secret from her, can Sharmila forgive him and get the happy-ever-after she’s always wished for this Christmas?
The Twelve Wishes of Christmas is the perfect book to snuggle up with on those cosy wintry nights. Perfect for fans of Heidi Swain and Jo Thomas.
My Review:
Well we also all know that I love enemies-to-lovers books, and while this isn’t exactly enemies-to-lovers I was definitely here for the forbidden love feel of this book!
Small town aspect: Check
The perfect location for a Christmas book: Check
Cliche: Check
So it really has everything you could want in a Christmas romance book. What I really like about this book is that it doesn’t shy away from the cliches, but instead embraces them and leans into it creating such a lighthearted, feel-good book.
I truly enjoyed every bit of this book, and enjoyed that the town felt like an escape from everyday life for me. It was such a fun read that I recommend to anyone that loves rom-coms, or Hallmark movies. Pick up this book, curl into some blankets with some hot chocolate and fall in love with the town of Pineford.
Also the cover is just the cutest thing! I would read it alone based on the cover!
Author Bio:
Ruby lives in the beautiful Chilterns with her husband, two children, and the cutest dog in the world. She worked for many years as a lawyer and policy lead in the Civil Service.
As the second of four children, Ruby connected strongly with Little Women’s Jo March and was scribbling down stories from a young age. A huge fan of romantic movies, Star Wars, and Marvel, she loves creating new characters and worlds while waiting for her superpowers to develop.
Hello! I am back again for a review of Summer Breeze by Angela Barton. I have been on a historical fiction kick since reading The Nightingale a few months ago, and so I was super excited to be able to be a part of this blog tour.
Book Blurb:
Paris, June 1940. The enemy has entered the city and Matilde Pascale hopes to sink into the shadows for the entirety of the war. However, when tragedy strikes it changes everything and Matilde focuses on revenge in order to fight back against the Nazis and their heinous crimes against humanity. But life sometimes takes a bizarre twist and it seems that love has a way of infiltrating the most impenetrable of boundaries. A common purpose drives two enemies into each other’s arms and together they discover the capacity of their combined strength.
My review:
Alrighty! I love a good World War II historical fiction so this book hit the spot in that aspect. Something that really stood out to me was just the way that Barton is able to perfectly describe what is going on around the characters. The scenery, the noises, the background is described so amazingly the reader truly is pulled into Paris from the first page.
Something that is really important to me when reading a historical fiction book is accuracy. I never once questioned if something was true or if the author was making something up for the plot. This book was so well researched that Barton never took me out of the time period. I was stuck in the 1940’s the whole time I was reading the book (which wasn’t too long because once I started I was fully immersed in this world).
Lastly, Barton did not shy away from hard topics in this book. We saw the hardships the characters faced, the hardships of the times, and never once was it sugarcoated or glanced over. Barton makes you face what these people actually faced during this time and really helped the reader understand the devastation, and what was a reality for most of the people back in that time. This is something that was really important for me for historical fiction, and it was done beautifully in this book. I truly enjoyed being with these characters and making myself look at this time in history and reflect.
Winter has arrived in Primrose Woods bringing with it new loves, new adventures and warm hugs on cold days. Abbey Carter, her boyfriend Sam and their trusty canine companion Lady, relish living in the picturesque village of Wishwell at the edge of their beloved Primrose Woods. The woods and the country park are full of activity as the festive season approaches. Lizzie Baker is flat out at theTreetops café, serving all sorts of winter warmers, festive goodies and lashings of hot chocolate. And when her daughter and grandchildren arrive to stay, the run up to Christmas is set to be even more magical than she had expected.
Rhianna West has finally found the perfect man to fall in love with–if only Luke wasn’t moving away in the New Year. As the snow falls on Primrose Woods, and the village of Wishwell sparkles with Christmas lights, could this be the year that every wish comes true for the three friends?
My review:
I loved the Hallmark feel to this book. That is something that I seek out in my Christmas time books and I feel that this book captured it perfectly. A picturesque town that I can picture perfectly, a love story or a few(!), amazing main characters. It was everything I needed to start putting myself into the season spirit. I didn’t read the first book, but that didn’t stop me from reading and enjoying the second book.
The writing style seemed poetic at some points making for a super fast read which I also appreciate in Christmas setting books. I also enjoyed that we had multiple characters to follow just how you would have in a small town so that fully captured the small town living aspect of the book. I can’t wait to read the next one, and maybe I will jump back and read the first one!
Author Bio –Jill Steeples is the author of many successful women’s fiction titles –most recently the Dog and Duck series –all set in the close communities of picturesque English villages. She lives in Bedfordshire.
Escape to a beautiful Italian island with this wonderfully romantic story, threaded with secrets and intrigue.
It’s time to return to Ischia…
Alessia knows her grandmother grew up on the beautiful Italian island off the coast from Naples. But Ornella seldom talks about her life there – or why she never went back.
So Alessia is amazed when Ornella reveals that, in the months before she left Ischia, she had worked on the set of a famous 1950s movie filmed on the island. Is there a link between the film set and the tragic death of Ornella’s teenage sister?
Ornella has kept her past – and the heart-wrenching promise she made – a secret for over sixty years. She has tried not to think about the love she gave up. But now, perhaps the truth should finally be revealed…
Travelling to Ischia together, Alessia falls in love with the utterly captivating island. Meeting handsome journalist Roberto helps her dig deeper into her family’s past, too. Just what happened to Ornella’s sister? What heart-wrenching secret is her grandmother hiding?
This summer, can Alessia and Ornella put the past to rest and find the happy ending they both deserve?
A wonderfully escapist, romantic and compelling story of secrets and sacrifice, love and loyalty, that is perfect for fans of Karen Swan, Louise Douglas and Rosanna Ley.
My Review:
Everyone knows I love a good summer romance story set in Italy! So when this book tour came up I just couldn’t say no!
It took me a little while to get into the story, maybe about 15% or so. Once it started to pick up though I started to fall in love with the storyline and the characters. I enjoyed the scenery that the author gave us of Italy and how it comes to life.
This book read like a hallmark movie to me (again, I love that about romance books!). I loved the flashbacks throughout the book, which were some of my favorite parts. It read sort of like Mamma Mia to me, and who doesn’t love Mamma Mia!
I enjoyed learning and learning from the past with the characters. It did remind me of a few other books that I have read before with someone having to leave the lovely country of Italy and a family member trying to find out the past. I think that was my main problem with the book as sometimes I felt myself getting confused with the other book. But that was my main concern, but all around I really enjoyed this light read!
Victoria Springfield writes contemporary ‘wish you were here’ evocative women’s fiction set in Italy. Her feel-good books follow unforgettable characters of all ages as they deal with love, loss, friendship and family secrets. Readers can feel the sunshine!
One moment I was just living my life, finding my way in the world. The next I woke up in a hospital bed with years of my life missing.
The man by my side – Rob, my husband – looks familiar, but I can’t remember marrying him. I can’t remember our life together. Most haunting of all: I can’t remember anything about the last five years.
Rob keeps telling me that everything will be fine, that my memories will return, but something feels… wrong. Why does our flat feel so unfamiliar? Why does he flinch when I ask questions? Why are none of my friends and family in touch?
The more I try to piece my life back together, the more I question everything – even myself. Who is Rob, really? And can I trust him? More importantly, can I trust myself?
A compulsive and obsessive read that will have you saying ‘just one more chapter!’ Perfect for fans of Before I Go To Sleep and Alice Feeney.
My Review:
I really enjoyed this book! From the beginning the reader is able to see that things are being hidden from Beth, but the reader is also in the dark as well. As we learn along with Beth the reader is able to kind of start to piece everything together.
The really interesting part about this is that you can’t trust Beth and her memories and emotions, but Beth also can’t trust herself either. The reader and Beth are trying to decipher what has actually happened and what all are lies. Beth struggles throughout the whole book with who she can actually trust when she doesn’t remember any of them.
This book is very fast-paced, and kept me very invested the whole time, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning Beth’s family secrets with Beth. I did think some of the plot twists were things that I could have guessed, but how we got to the plot twists was very enjoyable.
I rated this book a 4/5 star. I enjoyed the characters, but there were a few things that I think could have been resolved easier than Beth did it, but at the same time her brain wasn’t exactly working in a logical way for some of the book. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good thriller, especially with an unreliable narrator (my personal favorite!).
Alison Stockham’s debut novel, The Cuckoo Sister, was a top 10 bestseller and was also longlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize. Her novels The Silent Friend and The New Girl have since been published.
From a background in film and television production, working in film dramas and then TV documentary production for the BBC and Channel 4, she then worked as the events coordinator for Cambridge Literary Festival. Now a full time writer, she lives in the city with her husband, their children and their cat, who keeps her company while she works on the next book.
It’s been years since Zoe last saw them – since they graduated, drifted apart, and lost touch. Years since Zoe ended things with Dan because the memories were too painful to bear. Years since that night – the night an unexpected death shattered their close-knit group of friends.
Now, Zoe is invited to Scotland for a wedding – a grand affair at a manor house on a remote island. Apprehensive about the reunion, she hopes the long drive with Lily will help ease her nerves.
But things are far from simple. Lily has also agreed to give Dan a lift, and Rod, not wanting to be left out, is joining them as well, along with his fiancée.
And when they come into trouble on a cold, dark, desolated Highland road, it sets off a chain of events which will leave them all shaken to their very core, and questioning everything they thought they knew…
An unsettling and unputdownable edge-of-your-seat thriller set in the eerie mists of Scotland, perfect for fans of The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
My Review:
I reallyyyy enjoyed this book. There were so many layers to this book. We have a secret from the past that is coming back 24 years later to haunt the present. But then we also have a horrible accident in the present that is slightly similar to the past.
When a police officer starts to look into the past, will he discover the current as well? The dynamic between the characters was great! They all are trying to trust each other but also can’t help but turning on one another and then coming back together and then turning on each other again. The whiplash the characters are having with one another is so intriguing and really keeps you invested in the book.
Everyone has their own secrets from when they last saw each other, but are those secrets connected to what’s happening now? You would have to read the book to find out!
The settings are also interesting as the first half they don’t have access to their phones and are in a location no one knows that seems really remote. And then the second half is in a mansion of one of the characters with the police officer staying there as well. This big change in location really upped the stakes and also came at just the right time to bring my curiosity back up.
I honestly really want to read every book from this author and honestly probably will! I read this book so fast and really got lost in the drama.
Author Bio:
M. A. Hunter is the alter ego of Stephen Edger, the bestselling author of psychological and crime thrillers, including the Kate Matthews series. Most recently published by One More Chapter, his new thriller, Adrift, will be published by Boldwood in May 2023.
Nothing like a little murder or two to start the holiday season! I just finished and am reviewing A Deadly Legacy by Evie Hunter.
Book Blurb:
A tragic accident or an untimely death?
When Drew Hopgood’s brother, Frank dies whilst out climbing, it’s initially thought his death was simply a tragic accident. But when Frank’s much younger wife, Stella arrives at Hopgood Hall demanding half of Frank’s inheritance the Hopgoods and Alexi Ellis begin to suspect foul play…
Stella has no claim to Frank’s legacy, but she isn’t giving up easily. And with the reputation of Hopgood Hall still fragile, Alexi can’t afford to lose any more money because of Stella’s greed.
So Alexi, her partner Jack, and Cosmo of course, decide to dig deeper into Stella’s background. Just how did she meet Frank and were they really as in love as she claims?
As the trio investigate, they discover Stella has her own reasons for being back at Hopgood Hall. And rather than console the grieving widow, Alexi and Jack think they might need to look again at Frank’s tragic death – because rather than an accident this could have been a deadly fall – planned by his own wife!
My Review:
I really enjoyed this book! It kept me interested the whole way through, I think mostly because there was just so much going on at all times.
There are a few typos throughout the book, but I don’t think it hindered my reading experience at all. There were also a few plot twists that I saw coming, but so many that I didn’t. The ones that I never guessed were the ones that really mattered, so I really loved thinking that I got it figured out just to be thrown off by the actual plot twists.
One other issue I had with the book was some of the dialogue felt a little off/old timey, but for a cozy mystery that is okay with me. The characters are fun and very thoughtful, especially all the animals. I loved all the personality that these animals had!
I read this book so fast, and probably would have read it faster if I didn’t have to work! I would love to continue on with the series and also read the beginning of the series since I believe this book is the 6th book in the series. With that being said, you obviously don’t have to read them in order and this one is a great one, if you don’t want to start at the beginning!
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources, Netgalley, and E.V. Hunter for the opportunity to review this book.
Author Bio:
Evie Hunter has written a great many successful regency romances as Wendy Soliman and is now redirecting her talents to produce dark gritty thrillers for Boldwood. For the past twenty years she has lived the life of a nomad, roaming the world on interesting forms of transport, but has now settled back in the UK.
It is three days into September, and I have officially read three books! My favorite book so far this month (I know pretty early to decide!) has been Your Little Lies by Sue Fortin.
Your Little Lies is a psychological thriller with a dual timeline that is set to be published on September 6th, 2024, so just in three more days!
I enjoyed the dual timelines from Hannah and the past. I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Jasper and Hannah, and also their daughter Pia, and the stark contrast between the past where you see her marriage crumbling around her, although she does not see it yet. One thing that was unique about this book was that no matter what timeline I was in I was always looking forward to what would happen. I didn’t enjoy one storyline more than the other but I equally enjoyed them both which is so rare!
Both the present day and the past kept me entertained and guessing what was going to happen. For the plot twists, I found one of them a little obvious, BUT the way that it spiraled from there I did not see coming! This book left me guessing, and intrigued by Hannah’s story, both past and present.
I think the only thing that I didn’t understand is how everyone ended up in the same area. Especially Bryan and Hannah, I feel like there had to be some way that Bryan knew she would be there. But I don’t think that pulled from my enjoyment of the book.
This is a book I would recommend to anyone that likes a good psychological thriller, that like a dual timeline, and that want to be left guessing.
This is the first book that I’ve read from Sue Fortin, and it will definitely not be my last!
Daisy’s perfectly content with her life. She’s got a job she likes, a nice enough flat, and in a relationship with childhood best friend Adam. She’s got used to the lack of fireworks — after all, you can’t put a price on friendship being the foundation of everything.
But they say you never forget your first, and Daisy has never forgotten how she felt that one summer with Zach – one electrifying, yet slightly embarrassing fumble in the dark.
The catch? Zach was also her and Adam’s best friend growing up. Now he’s back, after making his fame in Hollywood, and he has the same to-die for smile and cheeky glint in his eye… but Daisy has made her choice and it’s Adam — right?
Can Daisy follow her heart without anybody else’s hearts getting broken in the process?
My Review:
This book is a fast and light read which I really enjoy. I also like the idea of the main character trying to pick between a steady boyfriend and someone from her past. The main issue with this is that they were all friends at one point, adding to the big decision that Daisy has to make, especially as they all hang out together!
All three of the characters make some pretty immature decisions, and a lot of the issues are due to miscommunication which I don’t love, and pulled me back for a little in some of the areas.
I did enjoy the lighthearted-ness of this book. As this book is a short read I was able to read it in one go, and kind of step away from my normal life and dive into the boy troubles of Daisy.
I would recommend this book to anyone that needs a fast-paced book, that could be a fun summer read.
Author Bio:
Formerly a Video and Radio Producer, Christy now spends her time writing provocative, passionate, seductive romance. When she’s not writing, she can be found enjoying life with her husband and three children, walking for pleasure and researching other people’s deepest secrets and desires.
A long-held secret, and a beautiful heart hoping to be understood.
Cressida Tarbet loves her job at an animal rescue centre, even if it means she’s resigned herself to scrimping to make ends meet – a lifestyle far removed from her best friend Ivo’s, in his ancestral gatehouse stuffed with antiques and art.
But although their upbringings were different, Ivo has held Cress’s heart ever since she clapped eyes on him at university. The trouble is – she has never told him. So, when a mystery and a baffling crime throw Cress and Ivo together, she can’t help but wonder if fate is telling her something.
As the puzzle takes them from beautiful Yorkshire, to the stunning Isle of Wight, the pair get closer. Ivo begins to understand the cause of Cress’s risk-aversion and she puts her irritation at his brilliant mind to one side as she starts to appreciate Ivo’s uniqueness. But then the unthinkable happens and their worlds are turned upside down, and Cress has to wonder if fate was calling after all…
Uplifting and unforgettable, settle back to enjoy this one-of-a-kind novel about falling in love with a one-of-a-kind man. Perfect for fans of Jessica Redland, Beth Moran and Jo Barlett.
My Review —
I really enjoyed this book! I am a huge animal lover so to have the main character be an animal rescuer was so fun and unique! Cressida is in love with Ivo and as readers we know that from the beginning. Ivo is not neurotypical and I felt that his character was really well done!
I enjoyed the mystery, and how it was slightly different than normal mysteries. Instead of focusing just on the dead body it also focuses on where did the squirrel come from that was found in the pocket of the dead man. This was just a fun twist that for the first time ever I was more invested in the animal than the actual mystery itself!
I liked that they were far from perfect detectives and you could see that they are just winging it. This, to me, made the book more fun and made me chuckle in places as well.
I recommend this book to anyone that needs a fast-read mystery, or someone that wants a light read.
Jane Lovering is a bestselling and multi-award winning romantic comedy writer. Most recently Jane won the RNA Contemporary Romantic Novel Award in 2023 with A Cottage Full of Secrets. She lives in Yorkshire and has a cat and a bonkers terrier, as well as five children who have now left home.
It’s been some time since my last review but I do have some fun reviews coming out in June! Starting with Bring Me Sunshine by Alex Brown!
Book Blurb:
Mamma Mia meets Shirley Valentine in the brand-new holiday romance for 2024 from the International No.1 bestseller.
Gina Bennett has had enough after her husband of twenty-seven years lets her down one time too many. Deciding to choose herself, she embarks on a transformative solo journey to break free from the monotony of her life.
She escapes to the gorgeous Greek island of Kalosiros, where she holidayed in her youth, and where she had her first romance with the handsome Nico. Encountering two kindred spirits in Rosie and Deedee, the women bond over art classes and cocktails, renewing their lust for life and a shared quest to find Gina’s lost love.
Together, they navigate the challenges of middle-age, self-discovery, and the liberating power of skinny-dipping. Will Gina find love again with her teenage sweetheart Nico, her husband, or with someone new?
Bring me sunshine is a wonderfully uplifting, coming-of-middle-age story about female friendship, romance and starting over, set on a gorgeous Greek island in the sun. The perfect summer read!
My Review:
This book was a very fun, light read to start off summer! Greece is a place I’ve always wanted to visit so I had a great time picturing the island of Kalosiros while exploring the island with Deedee, Gina, and Rosie.
Sometimes the dialogue, especially between Deedee and Gina, didn’t seem exactly realistic but mostly was there to further the plot in the way it needed to be. With that being said, I don’t think it changed how I felt about the book. This book read like a hallmark movie to me, which I loveeee hallmark movies!
I definitely guessed the ending right around when Gina runs into the owner of the apartments she used to stay in with her mother. Speaking of the mother plot line: I enjoyed learning about Gina’s mother and her relationship with her. After so many years have passed from Gina’s mother dying the reader is able to see Gina reconnect with a part of her mother that she thought she had lost forever.
The grand mission that the new friends embark on was so fun of trying to find Gina’s Nico after over 20 years of not having any communication with him. I thought this was such a fun mission, and really showed how much the new friends bonded, and showed a genuine friendship as they all want the best for each other!
This book was a fun read that I am glad I got to read while enjoying the start of the nice, summer weather. If you are looking for a light-hearted beach read, this might be the book for you!
Author Bio:
Alex Brown is an international #1 bestselling women’s fiction author. Her novels have been published in twenty-one countries and have sold over a million copies. Previously published by HarperCollins, her first title for Boldwood, Bring Me Sunshine, will be published in June 2024.
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