September came, and so did the new school year. And year 51 for me, too! My birthday was a lovely time, with lots of love from family, friends and colleagues, and we had a lovely meal out at a restaurant, Coco Asia, a fusion place. (Not-so) Lil Man was thrilled that he was able to arrange this meal as it was a place he frequents regularly with clients, and he does love being a bit of a big shot, lol!
Lil Princess has started a job, too, which is pretty big for her, as well as continuing to take her driving lessons. The countdown is on for when my Mum Taxi duties are almost redundant!
School – well, what can I say? I must admit to feeling my post-half-century age when working with the little ones. They are gorgeous in many ways, but such hard work, and I know I reiterate this every year, but it is flabbergasting how many parents send their children to preschool/school with not many of the skills they should be taught at home. We have twins who are such funny characters – they are identical, and constantly on the go, but they are also not toilet trained fully, plus when one goes, the other does – synchronised! I have never seen anything like it! One is getting the hang of it, and kind of indicates she needs to go. As we rush her to the loo, we have to get the other one, as she hasn’t a clue and will just wet herself, or plonk herself on the toilet without pulling down her pants! And they aren’t the only ones! Some behaviours aren’t fantastic, and we can see where parents may have been giving in to keep the peace rather than setting boundaries, so that’s another nut to crack! But, all in all, it’s not bad. We aren’t full, either, so imagine what it would be like with a full cohort!
As a result, I have been exhausted every night. It is unbelievable: the tiredness from work mixed in with Perimenopausal symptoms, and fibromyalgia flare-ups, as well as this wonderful plantar fasciitis I have in my heel. I haven’t walked as much as I had hoped, but I have to listen to my body, and walk when I feel able.
Did I write? Around 100 words… but that is something, eh!
So I read and listened as best I could. And I didn’t do too badly
If you love a bit of Bridgerton, then this may be right up your street! Alice, our MC, is a young lady who finds she needs to marry, whether she wants to or not, for her family’s sake. She heads off from the one place she feels most secure, her countryside home, surrounded by nature and her horses, to London, to live with her aunt for a season, to procure herself the proposal that she hopes will secure everyone’s future. The thing is, it is not proper for her to be unescorted, and as her brother is now head of the family and busy dealing with estate issues, his rather annoying Earl of a best friend, Anthony, volunteers to step into the chaperone’s shoes, much to Alice’s disdain. You can feel the chemistry and attraction, but it is fun to read how they keep avoiding the elephant in the room. And then, as you learn more about Anthony’s situation, another layer of confusion kicks in, and as a reader, you wonder how the couple you know should be together, get their happy ending, as well as honouring the predicament he is in, too. I loved this easy-to-read enemies-to-lovers story, with a bit of proximity thrown in. Regency-era books always capture my attention!
Oh, my, when a book resonates, it REALLY resonates, and this was one of them! A brilliant read for those perimenopausal, menopausal, and possibly post-menopausal women out there! Nell is a woman of a certain age, in her fifties, divorced, and grandmother to young Freddie. Somehow she has the inability to control her rage and blows up at the slightest inclination, so her daughter subtly buys her a package at the local Rage Room – a place where a person can smash the whole room to smithereens while letting some of that anger out. She has pent-up PTSD from an incident when she was much younger, anger at how her husband treated her, frustration with her new boss, Adrian, and even though she tries to control it, sometimes it’s like a match brought too close, and she blows. Often in inappropriate situations, but also when she’s had enough and simply cannot keep her frustrations in. Whether it is rage or a chance to vent, Nell discovers the satisfaction in ranting, too, and brings on board a few different females to share her newfound therapy! The book deals with so much, from misogyny to how invisible women of this age feel, and I could totally relate. Now, where’s my nearest Rage/Rant room?
The blurb made Noya’s story sound good. A young Indian woman travels around India alone to forget her woes after a broken engagement, and she encounters a guy who keeps popping up to either antagonise or help her. She is convinced he is a stalker, or someone hired by her family to monitor her. Ranbir turns out to be a genuinely good guy, and then it is up to Noya to decide whether to follow her head or her heart. On the face of it, a fantastic idea and story. The storytelling was slightly stilted, a bit simplistic, and unrealistic at the same time. Not a bad story. But not the best, either.
I enjoyed this new read by Amanda James, having read many of her books before. Eve moves to the coast after a settled thirty years in a different location, leaving her beloved bakery business behind, and meets an inquisitive neighbour, Ruth, who introduces her to a little magic at the bottom of her garden. As the story unfolds, their friendship circle grows, and a local legend involving a circle of hag stones casts its magic. Each of the women has a reason that they are drawn to this friendship circle, and together the five women make many changes for the better. Though the pages reveal loss and grief, they also offer plenty of positivity, making it an easy read. Is it realistic? Maybe not, but then we often reach for a book to take us out of reality to a place where things do have a happy ending, and this is that kind of book. This one is lovely and full of whimsy.
I love Evie Woods’ stories, filled with whimsy and a little paranormal twist. This time, our FMC, Edith, ends up in what she thinks will be her fresh start in Paris, but she gets her wires crossed and lands in a small town an hour from the French capital, working in a strange little bakery with a huge secret. I loved how she slowly pieced together tidbits and worked out the entire history of the quaint boulangerie and its fascinating story, along with the romantic twist added by her encounters with Henry.
Another fab story to add to the Nosy Parker series, with a murderous Halloween mystery to solve, entwined with a different story about a convent where girls were brought to have babies in secret. Creepy dolls appearing, nooses, and then a body! I enjoyed reading Jodie’s adventures as a not-quite-police-officer with her DCI hubby, Nathan!
This was my first experience with Carrie Elk’s books, and I will be back for more! The first in this series follows Ava and Myles. Enemies at work, then forced to work together, with an unexpected twist: Myles agrees to be a sperm donor for Ava’s long-awaited child. It has enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity, and I loved how they ultimately got to know one another; Ava found herself falling for the man she thought she hated, and Myles realised there was more than sexual tension between them. A little far-fetched? Possibly. But isn’t that why we read romances? For the HEA.
A Winter’s Trail is a slow-moving mystery that turns into a romance. Faith has recently lost her father, a famous TV personality and historian, and discovers he left her a small task. Unaware of the trail’s purpose, she visits five specific churches, as requested, with the help of George, a Welsh guide her best friend insisted she use. Forced proximity keeps them together, and you can feel the chemistry between them. The trail’s mystery, though, is bewildering. We learn a lot about Faith’s father’s philanthropy along the way, but that still isn’t the main revelation. It was a little slower than my recent reads, and the addition of a rather eccentric pup definitely added some laughs.
Another fantastic read and addition to the Hart’s Ridge series by Kay Bratt. This time, though, we follow our Sheriff Taylor Grey through an investigation regarding the sad death/ murder of a young pregnant woman; there is considerable time spent on the story of Tula Rose, a character introduced in several books previously, and her own family predicament. It sets the scene for the story to come. I always love Kay’s writing, and since each story has a little root in truth, it flowers with her imagination; it makes the reading more powerful.
Book 17 in the Hart’s Ridge series still carries Kay Bratt’s inimitable style, but with a little twist: Sam, Sheriff Taylor Grey’s husband, ends up in the limelight, and she takes a backseat. We also change locations as a case Sam works on as a private investigator takes him out of town. A man went missing, presumed dead, eight months ago, and his brother feels there is unfinished business. He arrives on the Gulf Coast, staying in one of the marina cottages, looked after by Daniel and Tula, a couple of characters from previous books. As they learn why he is there, Daniel enlists Sam’s help and, inadvertently, Taylor’s, to dig a little deeper. What was meant to be a little family break for Taylor and Sam ends when she rushes back with the children, leaving Sam to continue his investigation. Inconsistent evidence, intriguing answers, unexplainable phone calls – all these things help Sam and the team to find out what really happened to Wade. Along the way, we meet the cute Danny Boy, nephew and adopted son of Tula and Daniel, as well as Daniel’s sister Josie and Wade’s brother Walker, where a bit of romance may or may not blossom. But we end on another cliffhanger! Kay! Oh my! At least I know another Hart’s Ridge book is coming!
I have to admit I haven’t read The Henna Artist, the book that precedes this story, yet it didn’t detract from my engagement with it. If anything, it made me want to read it ASAP so I could understand some elements mentioned in The Secret Keeper. The story is set in two very different parts of India: Simla and Jaipur. Simla is a picturesque mountain area known for its cold, beautiful scenery, and Jaipur is hot and known for its history and opulence. Malik is one of the POVs we follow. He is an orphan who has lived with Lalita for many years, like a surrogate son to her, and she has ensured he completes his education, wanting to give him every opportunity to succeed in life. She sends him to Jaipur, the town they both came from, to learn another business, where the Maharani of Jaipur is involved in building a new cinema with the latest technology. He leaves behind Nimmi, a young widow, a tribal woman who has left her tribe and their ways to support herself and her two children in Simla. As he meets old friends and contacts, he writes regularly to Nimmi, missing her simple ways, but since she cannot read, Lalita, his Lady Boss, reads the letters to her. The other two POVs are Lalita and Nimmi. A huge tragedy starts the story, and the rest of it recalls the buildup and then the ensuing investigations taken on by Malik and, later, Lalita to find out the truth. I was engrossed in the whole story and look forward to reading the first book, and the one that comes after!
I was looking forward to diving into this after having read Jennifer Page’s previous cafe-related series, and I was not disappointed, Louise, the FMC, has fled London and her prized job as an editor, after making an epic mistake and arrived back in her hometown, Applethwaite, to seek solace in a familiar place, near her mother. Only to find herself back at the bakery her family has run for two generations, and she knows her mother hopes she will continue the business now that she is back. Poor Louise had a few dilemmas to solve, as well as meeting old and new faces, some more welcome than others. Her ex-stepdaughter, Maddie, also turns up and becomes a genuine support as she tries to decide what she really wants in life. Then there is Jack, or Giacomo, the gorgeous Italian/Yorkshireman, who is there to support his ailing father. There is chemistry, along with questions from both of them, as each hides a secret eating at them inside. I loved how Louise finally followed her dreams and managed to encompass the hopes of her mother with her bookshop bakery, as well as finding happiness in other areas of her life, and I have to say, I would love to visit somewhere like her new business venture!
13 books read this month! Which one caught your eye?
I am delighted to be on the blog tour for Jaimie Admans’ Winter Magic at Hollybrae Castle.
The Blurb
A Scottish castle, a fake marriage… and one very real Christmas romance?
After a window display goes disastrously viral – thanks to a malfunctioning animatronic Santa and an unfortunate encounter with Paddington Bear – Lula Haines finds herself without a job just weeks before Christmas. So she jumps at the chance to decorate Hollybrae Castle in Scotland for the holidays.
There’s just one complication: her handsome new boss, Oliver Bracewell, needs a fake wife for the festive season. To secure a promotion that could save his family’s castle, Ollie has been pretending to be a married father-of-two to impress the family-focused firm where he works. Now his bosses are coming to stay at Hollybrae over Christmas… expecting to meet his non-existent wife and children.
At first, playing along is easy as Lula is swept up in the magic of turning Hollybrae into the perfect festive escape with Ollie. But as Christmas draws nearer and she and Ollie grow closer, Lula begins to wonder if Hollybrae could become more than a temporary escape… and if the man she’s only pretending to love might actually be the one she’s been waiting for all along.
With heaps of tartan, tinsel and Christmas magic, this uplifting romance is perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley, Heidi Swain, Cressida McLaughlin, Ellie Henderson or Jessica Redland!
Fake marriage Christmas romance Boss x employee Small town Found family
Visiting the little worlds that Jaimie Admans creates is a pleasure, and I loved being at Hollybrae Castle, set around the Mull of Kintyre. Lula is a window dresser in a prestigious department store in London, and all the hard work she has done to create a perfect display bites her on the backside when it all goes horribly wrong. Unemployed near Christmas, with little chance of finding another job like it, she responds to an advert for a short-term vacancy in a castle in a remote part of Scotland, to decorate it for Christmas. Ollie, the owner of the castle, is quite gorgeous, in every sense of the word – looks and personality – and Lula finds herself in a surreal situation. This is where the Hallmark vibes kick in, when she finds herself not only employed for a month, but with a fake husband to boot! The whole fake marriage adds another dimension, and getting to know more about Ollie, the reasons behind his wanting his castle jazzed up, and watching them slowly fall into the conclusion you want is just dreamy! A brilliant cast of characters supports this fake couple, including their brilliant pretend children, Rory and Maggie. I loved this easy-to-read festive book because who says Christmas is only for December?
Jaimie Admans is the bestselling author of several romantic comedies – including The Little Christmas Shop on Nutcracker Lane and The Chateau of Happily-Ever-Afters. Her series for Boldwood, The Ever After Street Series, is based on the magical world of fairytales.
I have had the best start to the month, with the RNA Conference kicking things off.
The first 2 weeks were filled with appointments for either me, Lil Princess or my MIL.
Lil Princess got her A-Level results (She passed with great grades, and that made us all the more proud, given the ups and downs she has faced over the last few years!) as well as starting her apprenticeship! Oh, and she got offered a job!
I had to pop into school to get ready for next year, too.
Then we finished the holidays with a little city break, the whole family.
I really tried hard to get up to date with my reading because it was beginning to stress me out!
Did I write?
Around 1k words. Not much, but something.
So I read and listened as best I could. And I didn’t do too badly!
Every time, She gets me every time. Amanda Prowse has written ANOTHER cracker here! The story of Lilly Bob, an older woman, single, living in the flat she has always lived in, suddenly finds that her life may be about to be uprooted as a big development company threatens to take everything she has always known away. Written with a dual timeline, we learn all about Lilly Bob, from her younger years to the present, as everything falls into place and the reader connects events from her past to how she thinks now. I loved the entire premise of the story. Lilly Bob, and her attachment to the River Thames, her relationship with her parents, and different partners who shape how she handles life as she gets older. I was a little bit in love with this independent woman, who had a vulnerable past. The other characters help to round this story perfectly, but Clodagh and her little boy, Apollo, definitely made a special place in my heart. The young woman, closed off to anyone, finding a friend in Lilly Bob, and little Apollo with his obsession over sticks. Oh, so cute!
Oh, what a wonderful read/listen! I was swept away fully as I listened to this story, set in the 50s. Clementine and Alfie fall in love. She can’t believe it, not feeling that they are of the same social standing. Meanwhile, a little dual timeline of Stella, a few years earlier. She works in an art shop and meets Edwin, an artist. They fall in love, but it ends in tragedy. We hear different POVs as the book goes on, so it can get a little confusing if you don’t listen properly. But I always love different POVs, so it enhanced my enjoyment of the story, as a grieving family find joy in a way they never expected.
Val Penny is fantastic with her plots and twists, and she creates books that can be read as standalones while also building such depth of character as you read the series. You really get to know individuals, and each book layers another bit of intel about each character. This story brings us back to Hunter and a murder case (well, obvs, Ritu, the title tells us that!) But this case is a bit different in that the victim is known to most of the police force dealing with it. The backstory of the victim is well written at the beginning, and then how things progress, how characters with history emerge, and how they are involved in an intricate web of deceit, drug trafficking, and murder comes to light. There are also light moments with certain characters, and a romance thread that it is good to get little updates on, but ultimately, a great story. It kept me hooked!
I have just finished this one, and it gave me all the right feels. Author Kalpana is engaged to be married to another author, Marcus. Bookish match made in heaven? Well, it could be, only Marcus is one of those literary authors, to Kalpana’s contemporary romance author. Already we see the imbalance… And I say that with a pinch of salt, because romance authors are no less than any other writers out there! Anywho, off the soapbox to the review. Marcus wants their wedding in Sri Lanka, the motherland of Kalpana and her family, only she isn’t that bothered. Being born and brought up in the UK means she has heritage, but it doesn’t mean she has a powerful pull to the land of her ancestors. They find a wedding planner who sets about looking into their dream wedding – only rather cute Sampath is already quite a fan of Kalpana’s books, and who knows? Maybe more! The story takes us to Sri Lanka, where we are wowed with some beautiful locations, and honestly, if I were to renew vows and all that, I think Sri Lanka would be a hot contender! I love the story. The yearning, as feelings are uncovered and held back. The chemistry between Sampath and Kalpana, the two not getting married, and the anger and frustration I felt at Marcus, and the way he treats Kalpana… I really didn’t like the guy! You kinda know the conclusion, given the title, but what a lovely journey to get there. A great beach read.
I was enthralled right from the beginning! What atmosphere! I could feel the cold rush over me as the first scene, around the marshes, unfolded. Clare Marchant has written a beautifully haunting story, with mystery and folklore woven through the pages that kept me hooked throughout. In this dual-timeline story, we are at once in both the present day and 1665, in Norfolk, at the edge of the marshes, near the fictional ghost village of Saltmarsh. In the present day, Angel has arrived at her brother Dan’s barn in the back end of nowhere, seeking solace, and she feels something strange around her as she arrives. Rewind to 1665, and we are taken to Margery’s story as she enters the village and the marshes on the lookout for her mother and sister. The events of Margery’s time in the area are documented by cryptic symbols that Angel somehow finds in the old village church, and we join her on a journey of discovery and revelations as she, with the help of others, finally solves certain mysteries. I love a bit of folklore and learning about local myths, so the addition of the Black Shuck, an integral part of both storylines, was fascinating. The awakening of this creature can have two meanings, one more negative than the other, but I loved that she (yes, we have gendered the Black Shuck!) was there to protect both women as they both traversed difficult times. I loved this story and didn’t want to put it down!
I started this, knowing it was an MM romance, but what I wasn’t as prepared for was the SPICE! This first story in the Valley Road Diaries focuses on Troy and Bryan. Set in a small rural farming village in New Zealand, the story focuses on more than the romance, looking at heritage and relationships. Troy is a young man with deep-seated hurt. He really doesn’t want to let anyone into his small circle, fearing he’ll get hurt or lose another person close to him. Bryan is a widower, with a handful of a son and battling with his own feelings of who he really likes, at heart. They join hands on a farming venture and encounter barricades in business and emotional ones as they get to grips with the fact that there is serious chemistry between the two of them. Alongside the steamy scenes, the history of the land and how things came to be was another great hook in the story. I look forward to book 2!
I listened to this as I walked, and mostly I was very invested in the story. Maple is a flamingo keeper at the Zoo. Graydon is a football (American) player. Both are thrown together when the team needs Graydon to help get positive publicity, and the zoo needs more awareness and funding to keep looking after the animals they have.
So we see: 😶🌫️/🌞 Grumpy/Sunshine 😠/👩❤️👨 Enemies to Lovers 🔏 Forced Proximity
The two really aren’t fans of each other, but there is a palpable chemistry between them from the beginning. There is some real heart in the story as we learn Graydon’s background; however, the spice! 🥵🌶️🥵🌶️🥵🌶️ Once they break the barrier and admit to themselves that they like each other, well… there is naughty stuff happening all over the show! Maybe there were a few too many gratuitous scenes… or maybe I felt it more as I listened in the car and realised my daughter was sitting there, listening with me! Oops! Graydon is also part of a group: The Gladdy Daddies, three athletes, all volunteering at the zoo for similar reasons. What I loved was their little back-and-forth via a WhatsApp group, and how their own relationship toward one another grows through the story. A strong story, and I look forward to the next one, but will be prepared for the spice factor next time!
Leoni Mack’s books always lift me up and take me to glorious destinations – the epitome of armchair travel! Ginny has one of the most important weddings to plan in her career: that of her dear colleague, Sophie, to the unlikely man of her dreams, Andreas. Having talked about ideal weddings for so long together, she is determined to give the couple the best wedding she can, starting with locating it in Northern Italy, where Andreas’s family come from. She just needs to secure the photographer, and whether she wants to or not, she needs to ask one of the groom-to-be’s best friends, Rhys, to do the job. They’ve clashed a lot in the past, and she doesn’t relish the idea of spending time with him. Rhys suffers from a condition that causes face blindness, something that happened after an accident. He can’t photograph people. How can he be the official photographer at his friend’s wedding, when he’s better at scenic shots? Through the story, he ends up agreeing, and Ginny and Rhys’s relationship turns from one extreme to the other. I loved this whole story, and some of the funny traditions that were upheld through the lead-up to the wedding and after were key to some great moments in the book. Ginny comes across as bold and opinionated, but she has such a soft centre that she tries to protect. Rhys may be a little gruff, but his heart is sore after being burned before. Seeing how they begin to open up to each other and magnify each other’s good sides is fabulous! Italy and Forever is the fourth and final book in the Wedding Planners series, but can be read as a standalone. I much prefer having read all the previous stories, as we meet the different characters again and again, and we can see them grow and how their own stories develop.
Oh, I am so sad that this series has come to an end! I love how Kiley has woven in so many threads to awaken people’s social and environmental consciousness through the Highland Repair Shop series! A new face, a person who really needs to learn to love herself, Florrie, and an old face from the village, Hamish, collide on a stormy evening, leaving mixed impressions. They only get more confusing as it transpires that Florrie is there to audit Hamish’s Ski resort-style business, which may or may not be doing particularly well, and that Florrie’s heart isn’t in her job. She’s doing it to please family – a fractured family. Alongside this, we get a wonderful side story of firm favourite Rhoda, one of the Gifford sisters, and how her own tragic love life is threaded through the discoveries Florrie and Hamish make. It’s always heartwarming to come back to a series where you already love the characters, and to add more to them is just wonderful! I loved reading this, and I am so glad Florrie and Hamish got their HEA after a pretty rocky but short journey.
I giggled, cringed, then laughed some more! The escapades of these girls, especially The Dollz and all their madcap shenanigans, make for the perfect rom-com! Connie is newly married to drop-dead gorgeous Matteo, but they barely see one another because they are still living in different countries. Her flatmates and best friends, Ged and Luke, are getting married and turning into the worst groomzillas ever. And their venue cancels on them, three weeks before the big day. Armed with not much of a clue, and the help (?) of The Dollz, as well as a gorgeous French house Matteo can source, they head off for a manic, entertaining and totally off the scales pre-wedding week! It’s like everything that can go wrong does, and involves young children, a random puppy, and a girl band, each with their own personal traumas going on, and you get the funniest, heartwarming read ever. It can be read as a standalone, but I have read the previous books, so this just built on an already hilarious foundation and added more depth and guffaws as the story unfolded!
Right, so I am back from listening to the next instalment of the Secret Diary of a Bengali… Mum, this time, and I was as enamoured of the whole story as the last books. This time our FMC has finally had her baby, referred to as H2 in the book, and we accompany her on all the trials and tribulations of being a first time mother, with the usual pressures put upon you, as well as looking through the lens of being from a South Asian background, affecting exactly what you are (and are not) meant to say and talk about postpartum, and your own mental health. I laughed – honestly, her Mum is brilliant, talking about Jesus baskets! And there are so many emotional pulls and laughter, as she realises motherhood isn’t as simple as it may be made out to be. Halima Khatun, the author, deals with the baby blues, rarely talked about by many of the older generations of South Asian parents, as well as touching upon the support networks built up in the community and, more seriously, the health of your own parents as you become a parent yourself. Serious issues, covered with a good layer of humour and emotion. I listened in the car, and even my daughter wanted to keep listening, so I guess we need to get on to the next story, now!
I absolutely loved this autumnal meet-cute of a romance! Frankie heads back to her village roots, devastated after losing her man, her home and her job. The full Trifecta, in one swoop. Being back where she feels safe, with her cousin and pretty much best friend, nephew, and her dear grandmother, should make things better. Then she meets Marcus – the cake grabber! (I’ll say no more on that issue. You need to read it!) He’s a single dad, rather attractive, and a little bit moody. That’s where the rom-com kicks in: they end up fake-dating in a tiny village where gossip is the mainstay of residents’ lives. Faux romance, undeniable chemistry, and a moody child to rock the boat – what more could you want? I loved it and sped through the story, and the ending left me with a real warm glow.
Oh, I do love a Sandy Barker book, and she does write these romances beautifully! We have two sparring colleagues, Sophie and Drew. Each of them rubs the other the wrong way; however, they both feel some sort of attraction they want to fight. Both have romantic histories that keep them from moving on. But you know what happens if you keep denying chemistry, especially in Rom Coms… Things are going to get heated! There is angst, the aforementioned chemistry, as well as two girls, one young and rather cute, one older and a little more cunning- and they are both rather naughty in a way. A perfect enemies-to-lovers story, wrapped up in festive spirit and tied up with a huge romantic bow!
Cecelia Ahern is such a wonderful storyteller; I was excited to get to read this one a bit early! It centres around a bridge filled with ‘love locks’. You know, the ones that people attach to particular bridges around the world, signifying a special union? Well, the fictional love locks in this story are based on a bridge in Ireland, and the history of the name of the bridge brings all sorts of romance before you even start to think of the locks. Anywho, we have Melody, a successful DJ and podcaster, firmly in the ‘No thanks, Love’ camp, after a particularly awkward break-up. And then we have Al. Love was his thing. In love with his fiancée, with his best friend living with them, his world is turned upside down, shaking his faith in his intuition and in love. Al is partly responsible for removing the Love Locks from the bridge. Melody thinks she’s found a connection between that action and many unexpected breakups that day. And then they meet one another… Each character is wonderfully flawed, and I loved learning a little bit more about each one and seeing what really made them tick.
Another beautiful read by Heidi Swain, revisiting Nightingale Square and watching a new family move in. Skylar is at a loss for what to do with her life. She’s without a job, home or partner, so, fortuitously for her, Rafe, her father, is moving to the UK and has bought a house. His invitation to stay with her is both lucky and tinged with a little worry, as she has spent very little time with her father. Once there, her worries begin to dissipate, and she meets wonderful neighbours and community members, including Erik, a former rugby star who came here to try an alternative lifestyle after an injury put his career in jeopardy. It starts with a bit of an enemies-to-friends dynamic, then moves to friends-to-lovers, slowly but steadily. The characters were all intriguing, and I took a liking to Skylar, especially as she gives so much of herself to others. I loved her stints at the local residential home, and her relationship with her grandfather and some of the other residents, who added their own flavour to the story.
I found this a tough read. If you are going in, expect raw, gritty, and sometimes explicit and violent scenes. Depicting the gay scene in Jamaica in the late 1980s, with a group of eight gay men, all auditioning for a play that will very much put them in possibly unfavourable limelight, this was an uncomfortable read. We all know prejudice occurs, but to read it so openly was difficult. The fear around AIDS that spread across the world feels magnified within this community, and how the Gay community had to survive was heart-wrenching. An important read, but again, if you want something simple, this is not it. It’s long, and it’s very emotional.
Christmas in France, with snow, Père Noël and a handsome French man visiting regularly… sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Not as cut and dried as that. The MC, Nicola, has moved to France after a change in her employment circumstances, and she and her husband, Steven, plan to celebrate their first Christmas together; however, his job as a paediatric nurse means he can’t join her as planned. Ready to face the festive season alone, with no one she loves around her, Nicola sets about trying to sort her new life out. She has to navigate a new country, new culture, and traditions different from her own, as well as a cranky elderly neighbour who seems to be her only one! Lucien is her first art student, and I wondered whether he would become a distraction, but I loved how his connection with Nicola panned out. A little discovery when clearing out some rooms in her new house ties in nicely at the end, too. Nicola is a family-loving soul, and reading about how she navigates a very family-centric time with the possibility of being alone tugged at the heartstrings. I always say this when reading Gillian Harvey’s books, but she does make the idea of upping sticks and moving to rural France a real treat! Yes, there are inevitably teething problems, but the communities she builds for the characters, and the whole ambience, make me want to do it!
Oh, I absolutely adored this Regency time-switch story! I am definitely a Bridgerton fan, and dual timelines and time switches are always fun, so to have them both was perfect! It’s 2023 and Etta Moore is on her way to work, sitting on the tube, minding her own business when two older women are suddenly by her side with a strange proposition. A woman ahead of her time, Hetty Bainbridge, in 1817, somehow concocts a way to time-shift to the future, swapping her life with Etta. It was brilliantly done, with Etta dropping into an era she has only really read of, in the Recency romances, and by watching Bridgerton, and she soon finds out life isn’t all that rosy, especially since the body she now in habits, had a bit of a reputation for being a bit, well, mad. Hetty, on the other hand, finds herself. From getting the help she needed as well as gaining an education, and finally spreading her romantic wings, life is wonderful. There is romance, plenty of that, in unexpected places. I love the sapphic twist for Hetty, as well as the angst a hush hush liasion causes Etta. And there are so many other threads there, looking at how life really has changed for women over the centuries, how depression was depicted, as well as independence for women. I think I could gush about this one for a while, but I don’t want to add spoilers, so please read/listen! It’s a good un!
Oh, I was sucked into this story from the very beginning! Florence and Clark – known each other since they were six. Bickered their way to adulthood. Florence really can’t stand him. Clark is a bit bemused by it all, but gives as good as he gets. Somehow getting stuck in the afterlife, after a freak accident, they end up with a challenge – to change something and get the chance to live again, or… So many great romance tropes in this story, from enemies to lovers, to forced proximity (a particular fave of mine) as well as magical realism. Okay, so you kinda know what will happen in the end, or at least you hope you do, but the journey there is entertaining, and emotive in equal measures. In their pursuit to change and help others, we meet a wide cast of characters, like Pearl, the octogenarian neighbour of Clark, pining for her lost love, and Jane who is trying to move on after losing her partner, with a teenage son in tow who grief affects in its own unique way, among many others. Lucy Mitchell has added layers to the story that affects several characters, over and above the romance element. Grief is pivotal, with emphasis on how grief doesn’t just disappear, and how it can affect different folks in different ways. Overfall, a good read, with some wonderful moments and a few twists to keep a reader on their toes!
A beautiful feel-good story – I am on the blog tour for this one, so full review there next month!
Finished listening to the next instalment of the Secret Diary of a Bengali Woman; this time, H is fraught! I always love diving back into the world and family that Halima Khatun has depicted in this series. There are so many similarities and overlaps with the British Bengali community and our British Sikh one, but also so many differences, so it is both a reminiscence and an education. H is dealing with a toddler now, still unsettled at night, fraught with her child’s allergies, and dependence on her. She’s not back at work and feels like a failure, seeing everyone else around her in similar situations excelling. The balance of wanting independence, and also needing the comfort and support of her own family, as well as dealing with the whole sandwich generation issue; young children and ageing unwell parents is handled carefully, and we are brought right to the current political climate of rising fascism and racism, with the thoughts going through H’s mind being ones that many of us British born citizens, who are a bit more melanin heavy, worry about. Add in a major move in the cards towards the end, and we get a wonderfully haphazard, realistic account of being a brown female of a certain age, someone many will relate to. Bengali Millennial… bring it on!
Sally Page’s books always mesmerise me, and this wasn’t any different. A little different, in that we have a mystery to solve, but no less captivating. Lara, a florist, lives in a small village and finds she really has only one friend: an elderly lady, Lady Porter, with whom she can relax. She is devastated when the old lady passes away, leaving her alone. But she’s not. She finds herself with a Kindred Spirit – a ghost of a kind – Abigail, who has been sent to help her solve a mystery. Namely, a murder. I have to say, I loved this whole concept: a ghostly detective supporting our main character as she finds out what really happened to the unforgettable Lady Porter. There is a huge cast of characters, many of whom could be suspects, as well as those who have the potential to become something more to Lara. Many twists and turns left me guessing until the very end as to the conclusion of this mystery!
TW: Miscarriage, Abortion, Loss, Suicide I’ll be honest. I already knew I would love this before reading it, because I’m so enamoured with the previous two books. Heartbreak for the Irish Midwife nearly broke my heart at different points! This story follows the relationship between Maisie, a newly qualified Catholic midwife, and Alex, a recently qualified obstetrician from a Protestant family. Religion featured heavily in this story, namely the religion’s guilt piled upon people of certain faiths and beliefs, causing heartbreak and negative views of themselves. I loved Maggie and Alex’s romance, and how slowly they fell into a relationship, both respectful and illicit at the same time. The journey of having to admit their feelings to their families, and whether their love would be accepted, was a beautifully painful tale. Pregnancy and childbirth are never easy, and it was so much harder in years gone by. The portrayal of how women were treated during their precious months was equally heartwarming and devastating, depending on who they were and who was treating them. There is a lot to absorb in this story, and Seána Tinley approaches it with empathy and care, making the reader care keenly for all the characters in the book, not just the two main characters, for whom we only want the best.
I just finished reading The Salem Supper Club by Shelley Wilson, and I LOVED it! Ellie is in a bit of a bind. She has lost her job and her boyfriend, and has no means to pay her London rent, meaning she needs to go back home to her father, who has never been backwards in showing his negative feelings towards her. Sad news comes with a way forward, as she learns that her beloved aunt in Salem, America, has passed away. Rushing there to attend the funeral, she is given an opportunity to start afresh, but even in Salem, there is uncomfortable, unfinished business involving Nate, her first love from fifteen years before. While settling into Salem life, Ellie starts The Salem Supper Club in what was her aunt’s cafe, catering to the town’s lonely souls and encouraging friendship, conversation, and a chance to belong. Ellie and Nate’s histories provide most of the drama, so what we read is the healing, and I loved that. You know those moments you read something, and you want to literally reach into the pages to give someone a good slap/shaking? That was me, every time Alistair was on the scene! The Salem Supper Club is a place I’d go to, if only to chat to different folks and be a part of helping them through loneliness, too 🧡🤎🧡
A Tempting Trio is the story of Sarah, who has managed to find herself, unintentionally in a bit of a dating conundrum. I have read this before, so listening to it later was a pleasure. She’s been in a relationship with David, a married man, though she knows it’s wrong, and she should end in, when she meets a rather gorgeous stranger, Adam, in a coffee shop. He leaves his number. Maybe Adam will be the one who helps her kick her married man to the curb, and back to his wife… Then her best friend, Alice, offers her a job opportunity and introduces her to Tommy, an aristocratic romantic who fancies our Sarah. All three men have something about them. But she’s not that greedy… is she? There are some moments when you feel glad you’re not in her shoes. I mean, what are the chances of having all three of your men turning up in Paris, and confronting you while you are trying to enjoy a midnight visit to the Eiffel Tower?! Again, another easy-to-listen-to, fun story, where you don’t quite know where Sarah and her dating future will lead her.
25 books read this month! More than I expected! Which one caught your eye?
Val Penny is fantastic with her plots and twists, and she creates books that can be read as standalones while also building such depth of character as you read the series. You really get to know individuals, and each book layers another bit of intel about each character. This story brings us back to Hunter and a murder case (well, obvs, Ritu, the title tells us that!) But this case is a bit different in that the victim is known to most of the police force dealing with it. The backstory of the victim is well written at the beginning, and then how things progress, how characters with history emerge, and how they are involved in an intricate web of deceit, drug trafficking, and murder comes to light. There are also light moments with certain characters, and a romance thread that it is good to get little updates on, but ultimately, a great story. It kept me hooked!
About The Author
Val Penny’s crime novels, form the bestselling series of DI Wilson Series set in Edinburgh.
She is an American author living in SW Scotland with her husband and their cat.
I am thrilled to be on the Cover Reveal Blog Stop for the inimitable Nicola May’s Christmas release, Mrs Clutterbuck’s Christmas Emporium. It looks soooo good!
The Blurb
When Mabel Clutterbuck opens a Christmas shop in sleepy Merrycombe Bay, she has no idea how much her little emporium is about to change the hearts and minds of the people who live there. Mabel Clutterbuck reluctantly returns to the seaside town she grew up in to be closer to her ailing mother. However, the old woman’s fading memories keep confusing Mabel with her sister Clara – the sister who sacrificed everything to care for their mother before recently disappearing without trace. Determined to breathe new life into the old shop Clara used for her crafting endeavours, Mabel transforms it into Mrs Clutterbuck’s Christmas Emporium, a magical haven filled with vintage decorations, festive treasures, and a little bit of wonder. The true magic, however, lies in Mabel’s Lucky Dip Gift Boxes. Carefully chosen for the hidden heartaches of the customers who buy them, each one brings comfort, hope, and unexpected joy. Not everyone in Merrycombe Bay is convinced, though, especially the formidable ladies of the local WI! As Christmas approaches, an unexpected romantic encounter gives Mabel a glimpse of a future she never thought possible. And while she helps others find happiness, she begins to heal the parts of herself she thought would remain broken. But beneath the sparkle of fairy lights and festive cheer, old wounds refuse to stay buried. Why did Clara leave Merrycombe Bay? And if she returns, will Mabel lose everything she’s finally found – including the future she never thought she deserved. Heartwarming, uplifting and sprinkled with Christmas magic, Mrs Clutterbuck’s Christmas Emporium is a story of family secrets, second chances, unexpected romance, and the power of kindness.
Nicola May is a bestselling author renowned for her heartwarming and humorous romantic comedies. With twenty-three books to her name, her work has captured readers’ hearts around the world, has been translated into fifteen languages and consistently ranks in the top 100 of Amazon’s Kindle bestseller charts. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cream teas in her beloved Devon, hikes through nature, and occasionally places a bet on the horses.
Social Media Links – w: www.nicolamay.com i: author_nicola fb: Nicola May Romance Author | Facebook
