Book Review - The Cheap Dates Club by Lottie Brook - #HolidayReading Mallorca

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Title: The Cheap Dates Club

Author: Lottie Brook

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HarperNorth

Publication Date: 20th July 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

Two broke strangers.

Two broken hearts.

Two happily-ever-afters for the price of one?

Isla and Leigh are starting to think love is not worth it.

Until they both see an ad in the gazette for a new dating service, which vows to help skint singles ‘find love for free’ while giving back to the community. The dates on offer range from the classic meet cute (dog walking) to the less-than-cute (litter picking)… but when Isla is matched with Leigh, she’s surprised by how quickly sparks begin to fly.

Being a cheap date is nothing to be ashamed of. But will the price of Leigh’s past heartbreak – or a suave rival offering Isla a more lavish lifestyle – keep them apart? Sometimes, even low-cost romance is high stakes…

It was the title that attracted me most to this book, in addition to its very bright cover, as in a cost of living crisis, it makes sense for dating to be done in more unusual and less expensive ways 

Isla and Leigh though sceptical at first, decide to give it a go, and I loved hearing their dates and the newspaper's reporting of them. 

I can't say many people would be litter picking on a first date, it certainly would never occur to me but amazingly it did provide prompts for conversations, well nothing deep and meaningful but basic small talk.

I loved Isla and Leigh so much, the book is written with chapters dedicated to each of them, so we can see things from both sides, and I enjoyed getting to know them both. 

But easily my favourite character was Doris, from the care home that Isla works at. She's a breath of fresh air! 

I can't believe how fast I devoured this fabulous story, especially for an author i've never read, Which to me is mark of how much I was loving what I was reading. 

I'm definitely keen to read more from this author in the future. 

What a great book. 

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

Book Review - An Escape to Provence by Sophie Claire - #HolidayReading Mallorca

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Title: An Escape To Provence

Author: Sophie Claire

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Publication Date: 12th May 2022

Rating: 4 Stars

Where there's a will, can love find a way?

When cynical divorce lawyer Daisy Jackson unexpectedly inherits a ramshackle farmhouse in Provence, she sets off for the French countryside to oversee renovations herself.

But Gabriel Laforet has other ideas. A local builder with ties to the property, Gabriel is determined to see Daisy off and preserve the characterful, charming farmhouse - which, but for a missing will, he knows is rightfully his.

When the two meet, it's clear they couldn't be more different: Gabriel has lived in the small country village all his life; Daisy is a city girl whose career means everything. He is laid-back and messy; she is used to being in control. As they begin to work together, sparks fly. Yet they're inexplicably drawn to each other and, in the heat of the Provence sun, secrets begin to spill. Perhaps Daisy can trust him with her carefully guarded heart after all?

But Gabriel is still searching for the missing will that proves the farmhouse belongs to him - and in doing so, risks upturning everything he and Daisy have started to build together . . .

This was a very gentle slow burn romance, where you are never sure if the two rather different main characters are ever going to get together or not. 

Gabriel and Daisy are total opposites in everything, and in Daisy's time in Provence, she starts to change. 

There is a lot of character growth from them both, and I thoroughly enjoyed all the characters especially Gabriel's friends in the village. 

I liked getting a glimpse of Provencal rural life, and getting a feel for that part of France. 

It was a really enjoyable story that I was certainly entertained by. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - After The Rain by Lucy Dillon

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Title: After The Rain

Author: Lucy Dillon

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Transworld Digital

Publication Date: 17th March 2022

Rating: 4 Stars

After the storm it's time for a fresh start . . .

First, the clouds...

Tara Hunter is a therapist on a mission to restore Longhampton's community spirit after catastrophic flooding. But with her boyfriend AWOL, her family fragmented, and only a cat for company, Tara's own life is crumbling.

Then the storm...

On top of everything, Tara's father - last seen as he walked out on her when she was ten years old - is suddenly back, with a surprising offer that could change everything.

And after the rain...

Dr David Dalloway is Longhampton Wellness Centre's new star counsellor. He's charming, caring and has a knack for reading people's minds - which is the last thing Tara needs right now. Will having David and her dad around make for a bigger storm on the horizon? Or is this Tara's chance for a fresh start?

I'm sure I've said it before, and I know I'll say it again but the best Lucy Dillon books have dogs in them, and there were certainly some 4 legged presence in this story, I just wish there had been more. 

The story starts with some dramatic descriptions of the local awful floods, and of Tara working as a counsellor to try to help people come to terms with everything.  She is a therapist, but omg she really needs therapy.  The amount of things she keeps hidden, refuses to talk about to anyone, it was driving me nuts. 

And her family dynamics were interesting, because she has clearly been brainwashed by her mum not to think about her dad, let alone dare care for him or his whereabouts, so is completely thrown when he suddenly reappears. 

I just found the Tara bugged me at times, whereas David the brand new therapist at the Wellness centre that Tara is working at, well I wish he had been the main character. He was fabulous, has an interesting talent, and I just loved him entirely. 

I enjoyed seeing the character development from Tara as the story progresses. It was a gentle, enjoyable story. 

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

Book Review - A Postcard From Capri by Alex Brown - #HolidayReading Mallorca

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Title: A Postcard From Capri

Author: Alex Brown

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: 29th July 2022

Rating: 5 Stars

Her summer escape will awaken the past

In the Golden Age of Hollywood, Kelly Sinclair is on the cusp of becoming the next big movie star. Until then, she’s spending the summer of 1953 on the magical island of Capri…

Sixty years later, on a visit to her elderly grandmother’s cottage, photographer Maddie Williams unearths a box of old film memorabilia featuring a glamorous and beautiful young woman with platinum blonde hair. She also finds a postcard from the island of Capri, detailing the heart-breaking end of a passionate love affair.

Her grandmother now has trouble remembering anything from all those years ago. So when Maddie is commissioned for a photoshoot in Italy, she visits Capri to see if she can find out the truth. Can she unravel the mystery and discover what really happened in the summer of 1953, and will her magical island escape hold some surprises for Maddie, too?

I loved this book so much. 

From the descriptions of Capri, to finding out the big secret, to the depth of writing that at points had me on the verge of tears, this was brilliant. 

It follows back in the 1950s the story of Kelly Sinclair in the summer before she is likely to become a Hollywood star, having a summer in Capri, and living it up with her secret leading actor boyfriend. 

And Maddie who in the present day, has been asked by her gran, who is starting to have memory issues, to see if she can find Audrey The only snag is no one in the family has ever heard of Audrey but the only lead she has to go on is Capri.

I loved both stories equally, and especially loved being transported to sunny Capri, which is as beautiful and captivating as I remember it to be. 

But there is more to it than just the search, and Maddie really does grow and develop while she is in Capri, and so do the bonds she has with the rest of her family. 

It's an enchanting story that I couldn't get enough of. 

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

Book Review - Long Time No Sea by Portia MacIntosh - #HolidayReading Mallorca

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Title: Long Time No Sea

Author: Portia MacIntosh

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 6th July 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

There’s trouble in paradise...

Moving home in her 30s was not the life plan Jas had in mind. So when her best friend gets in touch to say she's arranging a long overdue reunion with their high school friends, Jas is very much up for the escape. Oh, and it's all expenses paid to Italy - so that's a bonus!

But while being whisked away to the beautiful Italian coast may seem idyllic, Jas has to come face to face with not only her ex-boyfriend, but the one that got away too!

It's a week of sun, sea and unravelling secrets, and as the love triangle from the past starts to develop once again, this trip is not panning out exactly as Jas imagines...

Should the past be left where it is, or could there be a second chance at love on the horizon..?

Once again Portia MacIntosh shows she has incredibly funny bones, in this story of friendship, secrets set to a gorgeously sunny Italian backdrop. 

At least it really ramps up a gear after Clarke's suggestion for an excursion for these friends reuniting for the first time in ages, where things aren't quite what they seem. 

from that point on the book was rathe addictive. 

Interspersed with the present day happenings, we get flashbacks to the group's teenage years, leading up to the night where they essentially ended up going their separate ways and that none of them are keen to talk abou 

This is a good light hearted rom romcom, that has some rathe memorable moments in it, that will make you smile. 

A pure joy to read. 

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

Book Review - Final Call by Alex Lake - #HolidayReading Mallorca

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Title: Final Call

Author: Alex Lake

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: 8th June 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

They thought it was a simple flight home. The pilot had other plans…

A moment of calm

Heading home after a conference, the senior leadership of a global corporation relax on their private jet ahead of their Christmas break.

A flash of fear

But their peace is shattered when they realise their jet isn’t taking them home. Instead, it’s heading east—out over the Atlantic Ocean.

A journey of terror

And things go from bad to worse when their pilot tells them she is going to crash into the ocean if one of them doesn’t confess to murder…

What a complex novel this is and so utterly compelling to read. 

Characters that you think are definitely evil, may not be and others seemingly harmless could really have a much darker side to them. 

I was never sure exactly who was at fault for anything until it was all revealed. 

There are many points of view and it meant we got to a see a very rounded view of everything. 

There is a lot going on, but at the same time it all fits together so incredibly well and there was a real sense of peril and intrigue throughout. 

Very addictive, I whizzed through reading this, from an auto read thriller author for me.  I can't wait for their next book. 

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

Book Review - The Country Village Allotment by Cathy Lake

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Title: The Country Village Allotment

Author: Cathy Lake

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Zaffre

Publication Date: 8th June 2023 

Rating: 5 Stars

A heartwarming and uplifting summer read for fans of Heidi Swain and Phillipa Ashley, by the author of The Country Village Christmas Show, The Country Village Summer Fete and The Country Village Winter Wedding.

At eighty-two years old Zelda Grey is tired. Tired of how much slower she is physically and mentally. Tired of technology. Tired of being alone since her beloved cat, Flint, died just before Christmas. And tired of life. The only thing that brings Zelda joy these days is her allotment in the gorgeous village of Little Bramble, where she has lived her whole life, and her three cranky goats.

Widow Mia Holmes always loved visiting Little Bramble Allotment with her husband, Gideon. But since his death she can't motivate herself. Despite putting on a brave face for her three sons and four grandchildren, she's reached breaking point, and isn't sure she can carry on.

And history teacher Liz Carter thought she had it all. The perfect job, perfect boyfriend in Rhodri and the perfect wedding to plan. Until she found Rhodri in bed with the neighbour. Holed up in her sister's box room she wonders how it all went so wrong. As she wallows in her misery, her sister takes her in hand and drags her to Little Bramble Allotment and suddenly she discovers the wonders of planting, growing and getting her hands dirty.

In an increasingly lonely world, these three women strike up an unlikely friendship and find that community, female friendship and the wonders of nature can truly be powerful healers.

This is fast becoming a favourite series, I couldn't get enough of this book.  From the first few pages, and especially once we were in Little Bramble, I felt right at home. 

There is something about this community that I really feel at home in, and I loved meeting out three new heroines - Zelda, Mia and Liz. 

Well technically it took a couple of chapters to get used to the fact that the character focus and viewpoint would change multiple times in a chapter, but once I got my head around that, and more importantly started to identify and remember the three characters, it was a joy. 

Three generations of women, who find each other when they are at their lowest ebbs, and form an instant friendship. It was beautiful to see, and I loved getting to know all of them.  Especially Zelda, our octogenarian, who is full of life, but clearly has secrets in her past. 

Also loved Liz, well once she stopped pining over her ex fiancee, and started trying to get involved in life in Little Bramble. I also enjoyed seeing how she reconnected with her sister and nieces. 

This has such a gentle feel to the book, but it suits the content. It's a relaxing sort of a book to read, and it's incredibly enjoyable.  I loved my time spent between these pages, and I just hope there will be more to this series which is getting even better with each book. 

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

Book Review - Evil Intent by M A Comley

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Title: Evil Intent

Author:  M A Comley

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy 

Publisher: Jeamel Publishing Limited

Publication Date: 17th July 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

The weakest members of the community are at risk… children.

DI Sara Ramsey has never dealt with a case so perplexing and finds herself battling her inner demons in her hunt for a child abductor.

What motive can the kidnapper possibly have for attacking mothers and stealing their babies, often in broad daylight?

When a witness drops a huge bombshell that turns the investigation on its head, Sara is left reeling and has to push herself to the limits in order to solve the case without putting the children in further danger.

Just how sick and twisted is the author's brain to have come up with such a fiendishly disturbing plot?! 

This is a case that really affected DI Sara Ramsey and her team, given it involved the snatching of babies, and absolutely no idea who is doing it, what their motive might be, or if they babies will even still be alive. 

It's horrible to think of the crimes, and to have them stolen in broad daylight is even more disturbing and I suspect this could make it rather tricky for anyone with a young child themselves to read. 

I was in awe of the team as they kept trying everything they could think of, to attempt to work out just what going on in this case.  I was totally hooked from the first few pages, and couldn't read this fast enough, as I needed to know how everything would turn out. 

I can't believe this is the 20th book in the series, it feels like only yesterday that we were first introduced to these characters, and yet I also can't wait for the next book. It's fabulous, as is everything this author writes. 

Thank you to the author for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Daughter-in-Law by Fanny Blake

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Title: The Daughter-in-Law

Author: Fanny Blake

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: 16th February 2023

Rating: 4 Stars

When Hope’s only son Paul met and married Edie, Hope was delighted that he had found love and was settling down to make his own family. Hope has loved bringing up her own child, and is happy to step in and help out now and again – but is always worried about overstepping the line between grandmother and mother.

 

Edie was hoping that having children with Paul would fulfil her as much as her busy job as a barrister has. But the reality is far from her dream. And with her mother-in-law Hope constantly poking her nose in where it’s not wanted, she finds herself frustrated and alone.

 

Both women could be each other’s greatest ally, but both have secrets that could ruin their relationship. Secrets neither wants Paul to uncover…

I can't say I particularly loved either of our leading ladies, but I could admire how they knew what they wanted,  And they had such a rivalry that was hard to comprehend. 

In fact the whole book in some respects gave me vibes of Monster in Law, the Jane Fonda film, but in this instance the monster is more likely to be Edie. 

What is amazing is how many secrets both Hope and Edie are both hiding, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for Paul, who is rather innocent in all of this and is just trying to be a good father to his two children, and is often stuck between his mother Hope, and wife Edie. 

It is though an honest look at motherhood from Edie's point of view, and although not necessarily a popular viewpoint, I feel it is one that some women will connect to, even if they may not wish to be as honest and admit it. 

Some of Hope's secret I had sort of guessed, but not the circumstances leading towards it. Whereas Edie, well at no point was I completely sure which way she would go with her big decision. 

There are interesting family dynamics at play, and even when I wasn't reading this, the story was on my mind.  An enjoyable story. 

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

Book Review - Happy Ever After For The Cornish Midwife by Jo Bartlett

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Title: Happy Ever After For The Cornish Midwife

Author: Jo Bartlett

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 5th July 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

The emotional finale to the bestselling Cornish Midwife series! Get your tissues ready!

Midwife Jess is so used to helping other mums achieve their dreams that she’s put her own hopes of motherhood firmly on hold. After having her heart broken once before, Jess is determined to focus all she has on her small family and stepson Riley and make sure he feels safe, happy and loved.

But when Jess is asked to care for a tiny baby and new mum in need of support, she’s torn. Jess wants to help, but she isn’t sure her battered heart could cope with saying goodbye to another baby she’s fallen in love with.

Jess knows this could be the happy ever after she’s always dreamed of, but what if it costs her more heartache along the way? Is she brave enough to take one last chance at motherhood?

I have to say at times as I was reading this, for fair amounts of the book I was doubting how accurate the title was, as omg these characters were really put through the wringer. 

And I was ready to do unspeakable things to the author if, especially knowing it was the end of the series, the characters didn't get suitable end points. 

Delighted to say that by the end I was practically in tears, of happiness, it was fabulous! 

We are treated to more of Jess's story, and given how much I felt for her, in the previous book she was leading, I was already hooked from the start. And our other main character this time is Meg, and I would never have guessed at her storyline at all. 

There is so much drama, action, emotion, babies, and more in this book and the series as a whole. 

I know I'm really going to miss all of the midwives in this series. Gwen had me laughing as always and I have to say I really hope we haven't seen the last of all of these characters.  I'm rather hoping there may be a spin off series or something else set in the area! But that could just be wishful thinking. 

This is a wonderful ending to what has been a rather special series. Just amazing. 

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