Book Review - Ms. V's Hot Girl Summer by A H Cunningham

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Title: Ms. V's Hot Girl Summer

Author: A H Cunningham

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Mills & Boon Afterglow

Publication Date: 24th April 2025

Rating: 4 Stars

Can what happens at Carnival stay at Carnival?

For sixteen years, Trinidad Velasquez has been the perfect single mum, working hard to build a stable life for her twin sons. But when her boyfriend proposes, she can’t help but wonder whether love should be practical, not butterflies and heart-racing chemistry.

Then her teenage sons trick her into a Caribbean Carnival trip. And she finds herself staying with the one guy who’s always revved her engine…even if he’s a decade south of her dating range.

Orlando Wiggins has never been able to take his eyes off Ms V. He’s mentored her boys for two years, and she’s never suggested there could be more. But at Carnival, between the sensual dancing, heated looks and electric touches, whatever he’s been feeling for her is definitely reciprocated…

This is the first age-gap romance I have read in a very long while, to the extent none others overly spring to mind in my recent reading history.  And although it's not much of an age gap its one that Trinidad is aware of the whole time, even while she is just lusting over Orlando from afar. 

She makes it sounds as though its indecent, and that she is far too old for him, but age is only a number and Orlando is not only an adult, but he practically a father figure to his younger brothers and caregiver to his mother, and is always putting everyone else first. 

He also mentor's Trinidad's 15 year old twins, who are capable of engineering a way for Orlando and Trinidad to spend time together without them around as they just want their mum to be happy and aren't too impressed with the man she thinks she should be with. 

I loved the change of setting from New York to a town in Florida that is having a carnival and is full of people of Caribbean descent, just like our lead characters.  

I loved the chemistry between the two characters and boy can this author write a sex scene. This is sizzling once it gets going. 

A thoroughly enjoyable book that was a joy to read. 

Thank you to Mills and Boon and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Below Deck Billionaire by Amy Andrews

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Title: Below Deck Billionaire

Author: Amy Andrews

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 28th July 2025

Rating: 5 Stars

The world’s hottest playboy is off-limits… to everyone but her 🔥

Theo Callisthenes - renowned playboy and heir to a multi-billion-dollar Greek shipping company’s sex-capades - always make the front page. But when one misdemeanor goes too far, his brother offers up a challenge. Restore his reputation with a 4-month sex ban…

Vowing to see the ban through, Theo takes up residence on his superyacht sailing around the Greek islands. Until one day, the one woman he hasn’t been able to hit and quit - Tiffany Wainright - strides onboard as the newest member of his crew. Temptation has set sail with him and the forced proximity gives him absolutely nowhere to hide! Tiffany might live below deck but their attraction is still electric and she’s just too close for comfort.

Then an opportunity to salvage a business deal he put in jeopardy is back on the table. To ensure success Theo may need a very indecent proposal. Can he convince Tiffany to pose as his fake fiancé during the day to help seal the deal and trust that neither of them will succumb to their burning chemistry once the sun goes down? It’s only for two days but how long will the ban hold when the door closes on his suite and there’s only his sorely tested honour keeping them in check?

Well this was hot, Hot, HOT!!! Between the heat of the Greek Islands in summer and the chemistry between Theo and Tiffany, well it's hot and steamy in so many ways. 

And I was totally there for it, I absolutely devoured this incredibly raunchy book, and thoroughly enjoyed every pleasurable moment of it. 

Set on a super yacht, featuring rich playboy Theo who is currently thanks to his brother on a no sex dare for four months, as an attempt to repair his public image and stop being papped and having what should be rather more private images revealed to the worlds press.   

And Tiffany the girl he hasn't stopped thinking about since their one night together at his brother's wedding to her best friend, has now started to work as second stew on the yacht.   After some initial shock at the situation, the conversations between them, the tension, the flirting, the forbidden looks etc.. all served to raise the heat between the pair of them. 

The descriptions of the Greek Islands rang true to me, especially was I was reading this week after cruising the area and a few nights in Athens myself. Took me straight back on holiday, but without the sexy billionaire. 

I loved the way this developed into one of my favourite tropes and then once the inevitable occurs, wow those are some really spicy scenes (and I wish I had been alone while I was reading to really enjoy them properly). 

What a fabulous book, my first from this author. I devoured every page and would have happily read more. 

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Surf House by Lucy Clarke

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Title: The Surf House

Author: Lucy Clarke

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: 27th February 2025

Rating: 4 Stars

Welcome to The Surf House

Where everyone’s escaping something…

High on the cliffs of Morocco, far from the city lights and the souks, stands The Surf House: a sanctuary for travellers chasing sunshine and waves.

But the idyll hides a dark mystery.

And when Bea washes in, seeking refuge after a dangerous encounter in Marrakesh, she soon gets caught in the current.

A woman her age – who stayed in the same area, walked the same beaches, met the same guests – disappeared one year earlier, vanishing without trace.

Somewhere inside The Surf House lies the truth – but there’ll be a price for uncovering it…

Slow burn thriller, that I was surprised with the ending of. 

Before we get to the ending of course is a fabulous story of surfing in Morocco, of corruption, the dangers of getting lost in a souk, and of self discovery. 

Add in the mystery of a guest who stayed at the Surf House the previous year and no one has ever seen since, and you have what starts as a fairly light book (give or take a stabbing), and it turns into something more sinister and dark. 

it's set on a remote coast of Morocco, in a setting that is incredibly well described.  And I loved seeing how Bea grows as a person during her time at the Surf House, especially now that she has stepped away from her modelling career. 

I liked seeing what she was really made of, and getting to know her new friends was very interesting.  

By the last quarter or so I was definitely hooked, and I needed to know the truth about everything. 

Another really good book from this author that I always enjoy reading. 

Thank you to HarperCollins and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - How to Read A Killer's Mind by Tam Barnett - #HolidayReading Tenerife

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Title: How to Read A Killer's Mind

Author: Tam Barnett

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 1st September 2025

Rating: 5 Stars

I’m psychologist Dr Emy Rose, but that’s not my real name.

I work with serial killers who've hidden their victims. My job is to find the bodies - and I'm kind of awesome at it.

The trick is to get inside these murderers' minds. And there's one in particular I'm hellbent on breaking.

Why? None of your business! Just know, I'll stop at nothing to read that killer's mind...

Tam Barnett's brilliant new novel will get into your head and under your skin...

OMG what did I just read? Just Wow! 

Completely and utterly unputdownable! 

And just what on earth goes through the mind of this author when they come up with these characters and stories as this was brilliant, but dark and twisted too in places. 

I loved the premise and the execution was superb.  I couldn't' get enough of this story,.  I was hoping for justice for Emy and her mother, as well as all the other families that she was hoping to help.

But trying to manipulate serial killers to give up their secrets is a lot easier said than done, especially when there is an interfering politician on the warpath too 

This is the second book I've now read from this author and I can't wait for me.  I am loving their work so much, - I just hope I can sleep tonight after those final scenes!

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.