Book Review - The Barefoot Bookshop on the Beach by Rebecca Raisin

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Title: The Barefoot Bookshop on the Beach

Author: Rebecca Raisin

Format reviewed: Ebook 

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 7th March 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

A wildly romantic, escapist summer romantic comedy, perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Eliza J Scott, guaranteed to make you feel like you’re on vacation already! 🏖️👣☀️💖

We need a bookseller for the Barefoot Bookshop on the Beach… apply here!

When Harper sees an ad for what must surely be the most idyllic job in the world, she’s almost tempted. But she can’t possibly leave her bookshop job in London, or her burgeoning career as a successful Bookstagram influencer… That is, until a casual remark about a debut author lands her in deep trouble.

So she applies. After all, now she’s got nothing to lose. Except maybe her heart, she realises, as she lands on the beautiful island of Ésperé in the Seychelles and finds herself seemingly surrounded by beautiful men. Including the hotel owner, moody but heartbreakingly-handsome Xavier.

But inter-staff relations are strictly forbidden. And Harper has enough on her plate, with a member of staff missing and a wily band of expats to contend with. Plus, she’s determined to make the bookshop and new start the success they deserve to be… Even if – under the blazing sunshine – the romance novel superfan in her can’t help but hope the boss of the hotel might not be quite the grump he seems…

The most romantic story you’ll read this year, with an unforgettable cast of characters that includes a giant tortoise living in a bookshop.

OMG this has to be one of my most favourite Rebecca Raisin novels of all time. 

We start with a bookstagrammer, Harper, who is undecided whether she should call out the newly hyped debut author for clearly having an AI generated book, but then fails to turn off her live feed, while discussing just that topic with her best friend. 

Queue cancel culture kicking in very fast, but at the same time to me it's a very key  point, especially given I started reading this a day after I saw an article in real life about someone who released over 200 AI generated novels last year.  This is such a real and contemporary issue affecting not just authors but all creatives at the moment, so was delighted to see it tackled in this book. 

And then in order for Harper to escape her regular life, especially given she loses her job as a result of her comments, she applies for and gets the job as a Barefoot bookseller in the Seychelles, at a very luxurious resort. 

And this is where the book hits me with the other elements I am always going to love, an exotic destination, a book shop, some incredibly hot guys, a rather unusual bookshop pet, and some incredibly wacky ex-pats. 

Harper is expecting to be working with Gus, but he no longer appears to be there, and no one is willing to give her a straight answer.  She also keeps having run ins with the hotel owner Xavier, and is always unsure whether she should like him or not, based on what she hears around the hotel. 

The expats seem to rule the resort, and are a rather motley crew, all vastly entertaining in their own ways, as are the other staff, although given Harper is a newbie and outsider, they aren't sure whether to trust her or not.  And thus it is hard to know or believe some of the stories they tell. 

What is for sure is there are lots of small mysteries occurring and it's fun trying to guess just what is going on.  

Harper is a fabulous character herself, and I love how she inserts herself into everything, and often doesn't think before she speaks. You are never really sure if the next thing she says will land her in even bigger hot water or not! 

I loved every single word of this book. I had a complete blast reading it, and enjoying just about everything.  It's an absolutely fabulous summery read, that it's just a shame I hadn't kept it to enjoy on a holiday somewhere hot! 

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

Book Review - Slander by Rhiannon Barnsley

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Amazon UK

Title: Slander

Author: Rhiannon Barnsley

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: 8th August 2025

Rating: 5 Stars

What happens when the whole world watches your life come crashing down…

When Hollywood actor Ethan Simmons sues his wife Tori for allegedly lying about his infidelity, the world is captivated. Once the darlings of the social scene, the case will tear apart their perfect exteriors.

For Riley Grey, a true crime influencer, the case might hold the key to the disappearance of her sister, Alice, after an anonymous source tips her off.

As the high-profile trial begins, it soon becomes clear that both parties are willing to air their dirty laundry in public. And when Tori hints at an even darker secret, Ethan’s reputation could be destroyed once and for all.

And as the media frenzy intensifies, and the courtroom holds their breath, who will win the defamation case of the century?

I had no idea who to believe at any point in this story. 

We have a big celebrity defamation trial, we have a true crime youtuber determined to find out the truth about her missing twin sister, and is encouraged to got to London for the trial.  And then we have Tori who is one of the celebrities involved in the trial that also goes missing during the trial. 

This is after Tori let's slip something that is meant to be as a warning to Ethan, and that has Riley, wondering if it's referring to her sister Alice too.  

There is so much going on, and its interspersed with social media comments and conspiracy theories.  

I was totally enthralled by all the various plotlines, and kept thinking one thing only to have that thought annihilated very soon afterwards.  I just had no idea what to believe. 

Which is why I loved this so much, I love hearing about celebrities going wrong, and the agents and lawyers were also interesting in this, As were subsequent police interviews.  It's the sort of thing I could believe could happen in real life, especially with this trial being the first live streamed celebrity trial which made the internet and social media utterly insane. 

This is another excellent story from this author and I can't wait to see what she may bamboozle me with next! 

Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Dreams Come True at the Fairytale Museum by Jaimie Admans - #HolidayReading Dom Rep

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Title: Dreams Come True at the Fairytale Museum

Author: Jaimie Admans

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 13th October 2025

Rating: 5 Stars

A place where dreams come true...

Lissa's heart belongs to the Colours of the Wind museum, a charming haven where fairytale artifacts whisper tales of old. But her quiet magic is shattered when a sleek real estate firm buys the building, threatening to demolish her beloved museum. Lissa is devastated and ready to fight.

Enter Warren Berrington, the infuriatingly handsome developer whose modern vision clashes with her quirky world. He talks budgets; she dreams of wishing wells. Yet, Warren offers a lifeline: three months to save the museum, and despite their fiery arguments, a curious spark ignites between them.

Then, true enchantment begins. Spinning wheels whir, glass slippers vanish, and enchanted objects embark on whimsical adventures, making the museum an overnight sensation. Lissa dares to hope her dreams are finally within reach.

But she can't shake the feeling Warren is playing games. Could he be orchestrating events for a clever ploy, or is Ever After Street weaving a new fairytale, one that might just involve her heart?

Perfect for fans of Jessica Redland, Heidi Swain and Holly Martin, this beautifully uplifting and wonderfully whimsical romance will sweep you away to a world where fairytales come true, magic hides in plain sight, and love might just be the most powerful spell of all.

I'm gutted that this amazing series is at an end, but wow what an ending it is.  

And this an absolute dream of a book for Disney fans, given the contents of Lissa's Colours of the Wind museum. 

I'd not really given this museum much thought despite Lissa being present in many of the other books of the series, as on the outside it didn't sound as interesting to me as all the other places on Ever After Street. 

But the second Lissa is explaining the museum and her ethos to Warren, who is working for the property developer wanting to turn the museum into a multiplex entertainment venue - I was absolutely impressed by the museum. 

It is able to bring magic and wonder to life and allow you to get up close and personal with artefacts from fariytales - including magic carpets, poison apples, glass slippers, ruby slippers, a wishing well that does grant wishes and a whole lot more. 

Lissa who is always up for a fight, needs to somehow save the museum as if it goes then everything on Ever After Street is affected. 

And her friends come up with the most impressive plan to help improve her social media presence at least. 

I'll leave you to discover what it is, but it's magical and I would have loved to have seen the various things in person for myself. 

Warren is a complex character, who has some vulnerabilities even if he tries to hide them. As he advises Lissa, he starts to learn more about Disney films and he's so adorable when he does. 

This is such a fabulous book, that I was welling up with emotion towards the end.  

I love all of these characters, shops and the whole idea of Ever After Street and i really wish this is a series that could keep going. But as it apparently is stopping, then the way it has ended is something that did have me grinning like a Cheshire cat. 

But please, please, please can someone turn Ever After Street into a real life place where magic happens (and I don't mean Disney World!). 

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

Book Review - Atticus Arnott's Great Adventure by Caroline James - #HolidayReading Dom Rep

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Amazon UK

Title: Atticus Arnott's Great Adventure

Author: Caroline James

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Self Published

Publication Date: 9th September 2025

Rating: 5 Stars

Escape to sunny Spain with the #1 bestselling author of The Cruise in this heartwarming romcom full of romance, self-discovery and the magic of saying yes to adventure.

“A gorgeous story, for all ages, full of heart and hope - sure to inspire a wave of readers to head to Spain in a delightful twist on the Shirley Valentine effect.”

When seventy-year-old Atticus Arnott drives his beloved campervan from the rainy hills of Cumbria to the golden coast of Spain, his village is left reeling. With only his loyal collie, Ness, by his side, Atticus sets out in search of sunshine and serenity—but his journey of travel and self-discovery in Spain soon brings surprises he never imagined.

Back in Ireland, Atticus’s daughter Mary is facing a crisis of her own. As her picture-perfect life starts to crumble, she must find the courage to put herself first for once and rediscover the dreams she set aside long ago.

From a later in life romance to an uplifting women’s fiction story about family, Atticus Arnott’s Great Adventure is a heartwarming travel romance story perfect for fans of escapist holiday read fiction. Proof that it’s never too late to start over, this delightful romcom will inspire readers to embrace the unknown with open arms.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story about septuagenarian Atticus, setting off a trip of a lifetime for him. 

This is five years after losing his beloved wife Clara, and almost losing himself in the years that followed. Until he came across Winnie in one of his old barns, and his grandson Jake helps him resurrect her. 

Winnie is a rather stunning campervan, and with her up and running Atticus with the help of best friend Arthur and Jake plan a trip to Spain. 

Atticus had never been abroad before but had always hoped to take Clara to Spain, so is doing this in her honour. 

He is even shown how to work a smartphone, the internet and Instagram, and thus on his travels accidentally becomes a bit of an icon for seniors travel. 

Although daughter Mary seems to approve, his son Mungo is a big naysayers, and I really didn't take to him.  

I also loved Atticus' dog Ness who accompanies him on the journey and all the new friends he meats at the campground he has booked.  It sounded wonderful and he really does start to get a new lease of life. 

There are some slightly more serious storylines involving some of the other characters, but ultimately this is a story of travel, of never being too old. and of adventure and trying new things. 

Atticus is inspirational and i hope I still have my zest for travel when I get to be his age. 

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

Book Review - Our Daughter Is Missing by Darren O'Sullivan

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Amazon UK

Title: Our Daughter Is Missing

Author: Darren O'Sullivan

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Joffe Books

Publication Date: 29th January 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

My daughter left for school this morning. She didn’t come home.

Someone’s snatched my little girl.

I have to find her. I have to save her.

But how can I, when I can’t leave the house?

My husband tries to be the perfect stepdad. But I’m not the mother Faye deserves. Ever since the night everything changed, I’ve been too scared to go outside.

I knew it was a dangerous world out there — I was right.

Whatever you do ensure you have enough time to read this one sitting, as you won't be able to put this down. 

It's fantastic, this is an author that I am now convinced is unputdownable for me, and the second I selected this book at random on my kindle, I knew I would have to give up all ideas of other things to do this evening, in order to just read the book. 

And that was definitely the right decision as I was hooked, and as the story progressed, my mouth just opened wider and wider in disbelief. 

I did not see that coming and I am totally reeling from what I have just read. 

This is an author that knows how to get under your skin, and this story must be a parent's worse nightmare, when the 13 year old daughter goes missing, initially feared to have run away, and then discovered to have in fact been abducted. 

But the reasons why are not remotely obvious, but when you add in an agoraphobic mother who wants to help her daughter but can't leave the house, you have another element to this story.  

We get chapters from both mother and daughter, so we know how Faye is doing at all times, and how she is, or isn't coping. 

I was definitely hooked on this, and couldn't get enough of the story. and I'm already looking forward to seeing what this author writes next. 

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

Book Review - Cross My Heart by Esha Patel

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Amazon UK

Title: Cross My Heart

Author: Esha Patel

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 22nd May 2025

Rating: 4 Stars

The perfect fake-dating college sports romance for fans of Bal Khabra and Hannah Grace

May Velasco has always wanted to be a lacrosse player, and she’s finally achieved her dream: joining her college team on a scholarship. Now she's got to give her all to keep her hard-fought place on the team.

But then CJ "Colt" Bradley shows up at her college to help with training. He's a professional player, but he was also her grade school nemesis, and the last thing May wants to do is take pointers from him.

So when they're photographed having what looks like – but definitely isn't – an intimate moment at a bar, May's outraged. But the college is thrilled that women's lacrosse is getting press.

May and Colt will have to pretend they're dating until the lacrosse team is happy. But it doesn't take long before this fake relationship starts to feel all too real, and May begins to question if she really wants this relationship to be fake after all…

Back over 20 years ago when I was playing Lacrosse at school, I would never have thought that at some point in the future that the sport would be the star of a new sports romance, let alone in 2028 due to become an Olympic sport, which I'm really looking forward to watching. 

I definitely never dreamt like Esha Patel has done, of a world where Lacrosse could be a major sport in a community, to the extent the players are heroes and become sports stars that transcend the sport. 

But that is exactly what is happening in this world, and I am totally there for it.  I absolutely loved every moment of the sporting action in this story.  I became a Lady Riders fan, and their highs were my highs, their lows were mine too.  And I realised I was that invested in their outcome when I was practically in tears towards the end - and I'm not stating if they were happy or sad tears so as to avoid spoilers! 

Again Oklahoma is not a setting I see that often in fiction, my main knowledge of the state tends to come from the musical of the same name. So I was loving seeing what life is like in Oklahoma and the weather risks are terrifying.   

And the story between May and CJ just warmed my heart.  It starts as fake dating to raise the profile of the women's game, and turns into something so much more. There are valid points made throughout the story about the realities of how women's sport may not get the same funding as men at college level (and beyond), even if the women are far better than the men.  Sporting inequalities are definitely real.  

I also really enjoyed May's ethnicity,  and the cultural elements that appeared in the story where really interesting too. 

What a book this is, I'm already looking forward to the author's next Lacrosse based story as I need more of this in my life. 

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

Book Review - Witch Trial by Harriet Tyce

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Amazon UK

Title: Witch Trial

Author: Harriet Tyce

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Wildfire

Publication Date: 26th February 2026

Rating: 4 Stars

Two teenage girls. One murdered classmate.

And a modern-day witch trial that will divide the nation. . .

When 18-year-old Christian Shaw is found dead in an Edinburgh park, the city reels - and the shock only deepens when police charge her best friends, Eliza Lawson and Isobel Smyth, with her murder.

As social media explodes and headlines scream for justice, rumours of bullying spiral into something darker: whispers of rituals, obsession, and a teenage pact gone wrong.

Matthew Phillips, a respected heart surgeon, is called for jury duty on the case. But as the trial unfolds - and the girls reveal a chilling defence no one saw coming - he begins to question everything: the motives, the evidence, even his own judgement.

Who's telling the truth? Who can be trusted?

And what really happened to Christian Shaw?

Let the Witch Trial begin . . .

I think the only thing I can say about this is WTF! OMG! WTF! At least that has been running through my head for at least the last 10% of this, and at various other times during the story too. 

This is one of those books I think it's best to go into completely blindly without any pre-conceptions. I had never read anything by this author before, although I was very aware of her, even before her recent TV stardom, and only skimmed the blurb. 

By the point I started reading, I didn't realise that this was essentially a courtroom drama, with elements of legal thriller, lashings of the occult (I should have guessed that from the title),  and some interesting mental states. 

I was fascinated by the Witch Trial itself, I wasn't completely sure who to believe, but a lot of Matthew's gut feelings, made sense to me.  I was interested to see this was a book told from the point of view of a juror, and just how excited he was to be on a jury.   At least until the details of the case became known. 

I think it's an interesting look at how being on a jury, and having responsibility for someone else's freedom can effect a person. 

I am sceptical when it comes to spirits and the paranormal, or occult, but equally at times can be quite intrigued by the concept and I felt all of this and more while reading the testimonies of some of the witnesses. 

This felt very unlike most other things that I have ever read, and I read it in a day, and was engaged by it the whole time.  I'm not positive I enjoyed it per se, partly due to the subject matter being tricky at times, but it kept my interest, and I was kept guessing throughout.  Which are always good things in my mind.   I'm also fearing that some of what I read my negatively effect my ability to sleep! 

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

Book Review - Match Me If You Can by Heidi Shertok - #HolidayReading Dom Rep

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Amazon UK

Title: Match Me If You Can

Author: Heidi Shertok

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Embla Books

Publication Date: 30th October 2025

Rating: 4 Stars

For five years Ashira Wernick has thrown herself into the company her mother built, continuing her work as a matchmaker in the Orthodox Jewish community. But when a small (read: huge) faux pas lands her in hot water with one of the most powerful families in Brooklyn, Ashira's future starts to look a little shaky.

Now, her only hope of saving her mother's legacy is to make the match of the century and she has just the person in mind: New York City's most eligible (and eternally single) bachelor, Caleb Kahn. Her older brother's best friend, and the man she is determined to keep her distance from.

As each match goes from bad to worse, with Caleb seemingly intent on sabotaging every date she sets up, Ashira will need to take a more hands-on approach if she is going to repair her damaged reputation. She just never figured that her heart would be on the line too...

The BRAND-NEW laugh-out-loud, feel-good romantic comedy from the author of Unorthodox Love. If you love Emily Henry, Ali Hazelwood and Sarah Adams, prepare to lose your heart to Ashira and Caleb.

Really amusing look at life for an orthodox Jewish matchmaker. Especially one that accidentally insulted the biggest influence in the community and has jeopardised he business as a result. 

As that is what Ashira has done, and to try to save her reputation she is coercing long time friend Caleb, a rather eligible bachelor, to be he next client. 

But Caleb has other ideas, and also definitely knows who he is interested in.

I loved seeing the dynamic between Caleb and Ashira and how it changes and develops over the course of the book. 

This is a highly enjoyable story, and informative too, which I enjoyed every second of.

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

Book Review - Vengeful Women by Melanie Blake - #HolidayReading Dom Rep

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Amazon UK

Title: Vengeful Women

Author: Melanie Blake 

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Piranha Publishing

Publication Date: 3rd November 2025

Rating: 5 Stars

If you love the addictive twists of Frieda McFadden, or the glossy scandals of Jackie Collins, Vengeful Women will keep you reading late into the night...

Five women.

A passionate screenwriter, a luminous actress, a celebrated producer, a seasoned talent agent and a cougar casting director. Once, these women were the queens of the soap opera Falcon Bay, ruling their glossy showbiz world on a diet of cold champagne and hot men. Now they are locked in prison, accused of murder.

One island.

On the glamorous private island where Falcon Bay has been filmed for years, their deadly enemy Jake Monroe is building a brash five-star hotel complete with the world's tallest skyscraper. Can the women plot revenge from behind bars and reclaim their home – and their show?

Countless secrets.

A journalist hunting the truth behind a string of murders is uncovering more than she realises. As love, death, power and revenge collide, she could destroy everything: not just for Jake, but for the women, too.

In Falcon Bay, spicy romance and shocking betrayal have always gone hand in hand. But now the stakes are deadly...

Ah-may-zing!

A triumph! 

Wowzer!

I feel like had to wait far too long for this book to be written.  I have needed to catch up with these characters for a while, well since the previous book, so was delighted when I finally spotted this one was available. 

I have devoured this poolside over a few short hours, totally hooked on all the action.  Even as I was reading the character list, key info from the previous books in the trilogy was returning to my head. 

So I was more or less able to hit the ground running on this one.  And wow once we move on from part 1 - it gets addictive, twisty, unputdownable,...

…and by the time we are in the last part, the finale section as such, there is nothing that was going to be able to tear my attention away from my kindle. 

Hooked is an understatement. It's compelling, its like a soap opera on it's own, and I can't help but this whole trilogy needs to be turned into a series of films, or TV series or something. 

I couldn't' get enough of these characters and all the devious and vengeful acts and double / triple crossing that is going on. 

The ending certainly shocked, did not see most of that coming, and I am astounded by it all. 

It's utterly fabulously, totally brilliant and I really hope the wait for Melanie Blake's next book is a lot shorter as I can't wait to read whatever she writes next. 

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

Book Review - Motherfaker by Anna Brook-Mitchell - #HolidayReading Dom Rep

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Amazon UK

Title: MotherFaker

Author: Anna Brook-Mitchell

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Macmillan

Publication Date: 26th February 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

Meet Barri Brown. Respected teacher. Upstanding citizen of Guernsey. Down for a bit of law-breaking . . .

Barri is preparing for a year’s paid maternity leave but there’s a catch:

She isn’t pregnant.

With seven foam bumps, a wardrobe full of smock dresses and a great pregnancy heist planned, all Barri has to do is blag it until she can disappear for good, without getting caught and being sent to prison for fraud. Child’s play.

But can she really get away with telling the mother of all lies?

This book was totally brilliant, slightly bonkers but definitely brilliant. 

Barri gives off main character energy in spades. Her opinions on everything are often the sorts of things you may think privately but never say.  She's a slightly prickly character, not helped by the fact that Sean has just broken up their marriage by text message 

And when she decides she would like to quit her job (with the most amazing resignation letter) and go travelling she discovers the depth of Sean's despicableness. 

So Barri decides instead to in the heat of the moment announce she is pregnant with the aim of at the end of it getting maternity pay and leave and be able to leave Guernsey for good. 

She's convinced she has no friends, and that her own family isn't keen on her, at least until the baby news gets out. 

Between a new friendship with a medical professional that is happy to sign off on this scheme, all of her newly purchased bumps, plus  a student who is getting under her skin you have the bones of this excellent story. 

And seeing how Barri tries to keep her lie sin place, while also starting to bond with her nephews a bit more is really quite heartening. 

You may not have met Barri before but I suspect you wont' forget her in a while. 

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