Book Review - A Murder in Eight Cocktails by Kelly Mullen

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Title: A Murder in Eight Cocktails

Author: Kelly Mullen

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Penguin

Publication Date: 26th March 2026

Rating: 4 Stars

Mix one old flame with a splash of suspicion for the perfect. . . murder.

In the seaside haven of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Willa Keane’s marriage is in a rut. As a retired interior-designer-turned-influencer, she’s sure life begins at fifty-five, whereas her husband, Marty, is more interested in watching his beloved birds.

So when Willa is invited to the opening of the chicest new cocktail bar in town, she hopes the evening will rekindle their flame. But arriving at the party, Willa is shaken to discover it’s being hosted by her charming ex-husband, Paul.

The night is thrown into even deeper chaos when the bar’s enigmatic owner is found dead on the rocks below. A suicide message suggests there’s no foul play, but Willa’s heightened senses aren’t so sure. Now she must solve the mystery together with her husband…and her ex-husband.

I really enjoyed this cosy crime novel set in the world of cocktails, to the extent that I couldn't resist ordering a cocktail from the hotel bar while I was reading it. 

Although mine was a regular pina colada and the eight featured in the opening of the new cocktail bar that Willa has been invited to are all with an Aquavit base to them. 

Willa and husband Marty, were not though expecting to see Willa's ex husband Paul there. Nor were they anticipating coming across a dead body before the evening ends. 

However although the police are insisting its suicide, Willa is convinced something more sinister is in play, and with the help of Paul, and reluctant help of Marty starts trying to detect things herself. 

We learn a lot about cocktails in this, and about Aquavit and also time.  In addition to ASMR for Willa makes ASMR Cocktail making videos for her online audience. 

Willa and Marty to my eyes looked as though there were growing apart as they ease into early retirement, but this new interest of Willa's could change everything for them. 

I loved their attempts at detecting, and although subtle at times, seemed fairly effective and seeing Willa's various theories was also fun.   Marty's jealousy about them spending time with Paul was also fun to see. 

A highly enjoyable book and the first I have read from this author,  If this urns into a series I will certainly be keen to read more. 

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

Book Review - It's Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh - #HolidayReading Tunisia

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Amazon UK

Title: It's Not What You Think

Author: Clare Mackintosh

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: 16th July 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

YOU THINK YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE

Nadeeka is certain Jamie is having an affair. She knows the tell-tale signs.

She’s been here before.

YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHO YOU CAN TRUST

When Jamie claims to be at work late, she knows he’s lying. He’s with another woman, and she’s determined to catch him in the act.

YOU THINK YOU KNOW HOW THE STORY ENDS

But when Nadeeka arrives home to confront him, Jamie can't explain himself. The house has become a crime scene…

Jamie is dead.

IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK

This has to be one of the most aptly titled books I've read in a long while.  And it comes from a queen of the twist - Clare Mackintosh. 

This is twisty, and then its twisty, and then it just has to twist a little more.  

I literally couldn't predict anything reading this, which really is the sign of an excellent thriller, 

I was completely hooked and invested in just what happened to Jamie, and never would have dreamed about the directions this book takes us in. 

It has a big theme central to it, that is a real life rather disturbing thought process, and reading about it (and I'm deliberately being vague so as to avoid spoilers) was really uncomfortable at times. 

There are viewpoints in this book that I'd like to think most people will find abhorrent, as I strongly suspect those that agree wouldn't be reading this anyway! 

This takes us down so many different directions, but at the same time you never feel lost.  It's just a writing masterpiece from a ridiculously talented author, who I'm so glad is back to writing psych thrillers. 

I definitely and whole heartedly recommend this, and thought it was a wonderful book to kick off my holiday reading with. 

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

Book Review - A Cottage in the Country by Katie Fforde

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Title: A Cottage in the Country

Author: Katie Fforde

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Publication Date: 16th July 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

She's found her dream home but can she make her dreams a reality?

Hattie finds other people their dream homes for a living.

Surely she, of all people, has the connections and the knowledge to find her own forever home? Instead, she baffles those closest to her by choosing to pack up and move every few months from one housesitting job to the next.

Of course, that's because she knows where she wants to live. It's a beautiful house owned by a lovely old woman who'd simply love for Hattie to have it.

But nothing is ever that simple.

There's Clive who refuses to listen to his great-aunt's wishes about her house. There's Luke, Hattie's oldest friend, who just wants to see her happy. And there's Hattie herself. It might take a difficult client, an awkward teenager and a couple of dogs to help her see what really makes a house a home.

I don't know how Katie Fforde does it but every single time she writes such a warm and cosy story that I never want it to end, and this was no exception. 

I was loving Hattie and her house finding abilities, as well as her "special ability". I was totally invested in all of the characters in this book. 

There is some creative matchmaking, there is the slowest burn of all relationships, where I think the audience and just about all the characters other than Hattie could see the obvious about something before she could. 

There is Hattie's friendship with Mary, who lives in Hattie's dream house, but there is Mary's bully of a son Clive to deal with. 

There is one other totally despicable man in this story too, who doesn't even deserve to be named in this review! 

This is a book full of good feelings, and certainly gave me a warm fuzzy feeling as I devoured it.  Another wonderful book from the pen of Kattie Fforde. 

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

Book Review - Coupling Up by Jo Lyons

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Amazon UK

Title: Coupling Up

Author: Jo Lyons

Format reviewed: Ebook 

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 15th May 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

A brilliantly funny, feel-good romantic comedy from Jo Lyons, perfect for fans of Portia MacIntosh, Abby Jimenez and Love Island! ☀️🏝️❤️‍🔥

The most adventurous thing unlucky-in-love primary school teacher Libby has done this year is buy an air fryer. So when she finds herself trading places with her twin sister during the summer holidays, to be a contestant on reality TV show Love on the Island, she is way out of her comfort zone.

Jetting off to a villa in Mexico full of promiscuous muscle-mountains coupling up with glamorous women with frozen foreheads and hidden agendas, and a she-devil executive producer hellbent on exposing her to ridicule, should be her worst nightmare but somehow Libby does end up catching feelings... for the one guy who is forbidden fruit. Gorgeous, sexy, show producer Cameron.

Suddenly Libby’s summer is picking up. But she’ll be kicked off the show and lose her chance with Cameron unless she learns how to become a crazed, fame-hungry, media whore… and fast.

Yes, love is about staying true to yourself. But it’s also about taking risky leaps of faith.

And if true love is the prize, has she got what it takes to win? 💘

Perfect Holiday Reading

Completely fabulous

So So Funny

An absolute joy to read

Totally devoured this

Do I really need to say more?

Ok then! 

Libby the girl who is not a fan of Love on the Island, agrees to swap places with her twin sister and star in the latest series, a decision made after she has just lost both her job and boyfriend. 

As someone that still hasn't jumped on the Love Island bandwagon, I totally get and agreed with everything Libby thinks about these sort of shows. 

But I do love reading about fictionalised versions of car crash TV, and this one has it all and is set in Mexico too. 

There is the producer Cameron, who Libby may actually be attracted too, unlike the men in the villa that she is meant to be "dating".  

We have a big scary boss lady, that is definitely a work place bully. 

And then we have the other girls and boys in this show, and what a mixed bag they are and i could see it all oh so clearly. 

I read this book in a few short hours and couldn't get enough of it. It had everything I wanted and more for a book set in this sort of world. 

Jo Lyons is certainly fast becoming one of my favourite authors.  Keep them coming please. 

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

Book Review - Wed Or Alive by Portia MacIntosh

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Amazon UK

Title: Wed Or Alive

Author: Portia MacIntosh

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley 

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 28th April 2026

Rating: 4 Stars

Sometimes love shows up in cowboy boots 🐎❣️

Whitney’s life is not going to plan. Her romantic comedy novel isn’t selling, her career feels stuck, and by the time she realises she’s in love with her best friend and roommate, Andy, he’s back from his work trip with a fiancée - and a wedding date that is alarmingly soon.

Enter Jake: a cowboy with his own problems, including a country estate he’s desperate to buy and an owner who doesn’t trust developers - or men without roots. When a viral moment throws Whitney and Jake together, they strike a deal. Whitney gets the real-life love story publishers want. Jake gets to look like a committed, family-minded man who belongs at Rosewood. All they have to do is pretend they’re in love.

As Andy’s wedding approaches, Whitney uncovers a plot twist that could change everything for him - but the romcom she’s acting out with Jake is starting to feel dangerously real.

Falling for your best friend is complicated, but riding off into the sunset with a cowboy is pure fiction… Right?

If you are a massive fan of Portia MacIntosh like me, then don't read the blurb, just buy this.  I've only just looked at the blurb ahead of writing this review, and am very surprised at just how much of the story it seems to give away. 

Which is about to make this a lot trickier as the book really gets going in my eyes around the 50% mark although it was completely enjoyable before that,  and the majority of the blurb is covering things from that bit onwards!!

This though has plenty of Portia's trademark humour in it, and omg Jake the cowboy was enough to melt me. 

He is absolutely wonderful, and J J one of Whitney's best friends is totally fabulous.  She is likened in the book to Samantha Jones from Sex and the City and I would definitely agree with that.

This was very enjoyable, really amusing and contains one of my favourite tropes too. What more could a girl want. 

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

Book Review - The Cornish Beach Hut Wedding by Jane Linfoot

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Title:  The Cornish Beach Hut Wedding

Author: Jane Linfoot

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: 30th April 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

A second chance for forever?

Ten years ago Maeve would have given anything to be standing side-by-side with Lando Nancarrow, she in a flowing white bridal gown and he in a sharp tux that emphasized just how handsome he is. But after one unforgettable night at her beloved Cornish beach hut, Lando disappeared and Maeve was left alone… until the surprise arrival of their daughter months later.

Now, with Lando’s return, Maeve finds the dream she’d long given up on coming true as she’s talked into posing as the ideal bride to Lando’s dashing groom in a campaign to promote her new beach hut weddings venture. With their undeniable chemistry evident in every single look of love for the camera, is it possible that a true ‘I do’ could finally be on the horizon for Maeve and Lando?

Ooh not only is this a new St Aiden novel, but it also features heavily The Little Wedding Shop by the Sea, and as a massive fan of all of these books, I was utterly delighted to see Jess, Poppy and Sera again, as well as mentions of characters from many other books of this series. 

As a Jane Linfoot fan all of this pleased me a great deal before I even got too far into this latest totally standalone novel. 

I loved Maeve and Lando's story,  both hearing about them from 10 years previous, and also getting to know them now as fully grown adults. 

Maeve was a daughter, Nemmie as a result of one night with Lando 10 years ago, the night before he went off on an adventure with her brother, and she hadn't seen him since.  So Lando is unaware that he is a father. 

As fates would have it, they literally run into each other in a fun meet cute style situation and then are thrown together a lot over the summer, will both of them fighting all manner of emotions towards each other. 

Add in the newest wedding venue in town a lot of different brides and situations, plus the fact that Nemmie and the other kids her age in the complex family set up that Maeve has, being totally wonderful, and incredibly clever and determined and you have all the elements of a fabulous book. 

Add in some humour with some wedding dress mishaps, and a couple of large dogs too and this is an absolute joy to read. 

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

Book Review - Stranded in Paradise by Portia MacIntosh

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Title: Stranded in Paradise

Author: Portia MacIntosh

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley 

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 26th January 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

Two rival colleagues. One tropical storm. Now they're stranded in paradise.

From the moment Cleo met Lockie, her infuriatingly charming co-casting producer on hit reality show Welcome to Singledom, he’s been getting under her skin. Their job? Casting singles for the ultimate island romance. Their problem? They can’t agree on anything.

Now, the cameras are ready to roll, and the contestants—well, most of them—are en route. But when the threat of a tropical storm delays half the cast, launch night turns into a total disaster. With no Plan B, Cleo and Lockie are forced to step in as contestants. Just for 24 hours until the real stars arrive.

Simple, right? Except tensions are sky-high and sparks are flying for all the wrong reasons! All they have to do is couple-up and get voted off - but there’s a storm coming, so leaving the island might not be so easy. Cleo’s used to pulling strings behind the scenes, not falling headfirst into the drama.

But when the cameras stop rolling, will their fake fling fade with the credits—or could it be Cleo’s most unexpected plot twist yet?

Escape to paradise with a laugh-out-loud, gorgeous forced proximity with your rival romance from MILLION-COPY bestseller Portia MacIntosh

Until about 5 mins before I started writing this review, I knew this book to be called A Shore Thing.  I must say that I heartily prefer and agree with this new title Stranded In Paradise, which is a far more accurate title as to what's inside these pages. 

As at the heart of this we have a a reality dating show on a Caribbean island where the comms go down due to be a big tropical storm.  And most of the contestants hadn't arrived yet, so the two casting directors Lockie and Cleo are forced to take part as contestants. 

Lockie and Cleo though have been at loggerheads with differing approaches to how they wanted to cast this latest season of Welcome to Singledom, even though their first meeting gave total vibes between them! 

This is enemies to lovers at it's best, plus it has added jeopardy of being on a deserted island with survival vibes. Had this any other author I would have probably expected a body count to start appearing in these circumstances, but instead this was as I hoped another totally fabulous rom com from the pen of Portia MacIntosh. 

I couldn't read this fast enough, the pages just kept on turning and I was loving every single second of it.  I even loved the other contestants on the show, who initially a few of them seemed rather annoying but by the end I had a soft spot for all four of them. 

This is fast paced, incredibly enjoyable and just a pleasure to read.  

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

Book Review - Is That You, Beth Cherry? by Lucy Dillon

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Amazon UK

Title: Is That You, Beth Cherry?

Author: Lucy Dillon

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Publication Date: 9th July 2026

Rating: 4 Stars

Beth's life, like the unfinished screenplay on her laptop, is stuck between chapters.

Since her breakup with Fraser - which was not part of the script - she's retreated into a lonely WFH world of sweatpants, disordered hours and comfort eating. The one luminous constant in her life is her love for her rescue dog, Tomsk, and his for her.

When Beth's house share falls apart, she is thrown a lifeline by the least likely person: Fraser's mother Martine, who offers Beth and Tomsk a temporary space above her garage in which to start over. Returning to Longhampton, scene of her happiest memories with Fraser and his family, feels like a second chance: might this be a sign that she and Fraser are meant to be?

But when Beth is recruited as a writer for a project called The Story of Your Life, she starts to gain more perspective on her own life. Run by the local retirement community, some of the stories she hears are heartwarming, some are heartbreaking. All of them, Beth notes, reveal a little more than the teller realises. And when she is sent an anonymous story of first love that threatens to destroy more than one family's identity, Beth has to decide: is it sometimes better to keep a secret than reveal the truth?

It took me a while to properly get into the story of this book, possibly my fault for not double checking the blurb before hand,  so took me a while to work out exactly why Beth Cherry seemed unhappy and disconnected from a fuller life. 

Once I was invested in the story though I loved it, and I thoroughly enjoyed Lewis and Rosemount Care Home.  He is one of life's best people, and is attempting to turn around a care home in disarray, and is a many that really does care about his resident's happiness.  He is also rather naive with regards to his heart, and seeing how his fledgling friendship with Beth develops is rather sweet. 

Especially since Beth is completely oblivious, and seems to be spending her time wishing she was still with Fraser, who she split with years before, but is suddenly back involved in his family's life at any rate. 

It was though the storylines involving Rosemount and its residents that stole my heart.  There is a life story project being set up and Beth is volunteered to help out with it and some of the stories are just so mesmerising. 

I also enjoyed getting to know Martine, Fraser's mum who offers Beth a much needed lifeline, and I loved learning about her life too. 

This is a story of rediscovery for Beth, as she finally starts to come back to life properly.  I loved her feisty side and the book had a wonderful conclusion. 

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

Book Review - The Sunshine Teashop by Jaimie Admans

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Amazon UK

Title: The Sunshine Teashop

Author: Jaimie Admans

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 30th April 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

Welcome to Thimblenouth: where the kettle is always on and fresh starts and unexpected love are waiting. 🧁🫖

Dolly Lymford is having one of those days…The kind that starts with dreams of opening a café… and ends with discovering your boyfriend kissing your best friend!

Heartbroken and with nowhere else to go, Dolly accidentally-on-purpose borrows her now-ex-boyfriend’s campervan and drives until the road runs out. This leads her to Thimblenouth, a picture-perfect Yorkshire Dales village where life moves more slowly and the kettle is always on.

After literally bumping into gorgeous local builder Reece Sterling, Dolly begins to feel something she hasn’t in a long time: safe. She also rediscovers her love of baking, filling the campervan with the scent of warm scones and freshly brewed tea. And Reece is always around to share a lemon pie or two...

When Dolly has an idea to open her own pop-up café, Reece is all too happy to help. And as the summer sun begins to warm everything it touches, Dolly wonders if she's finally found a place to call home... maybe even with Reece.

But can she really build a future on borrowed wheels?

A warm, uplifting story of fresh starts, village kindness, and finding love where you least expect it — best enjoyed with tea and cake. 🍰

This was a ray of sunshine, that was totally able to brighten up a cold and rainy day for me!  It was a complete and utter joy to read, while I was at day 1 of Queens, waiting for the rain to stop and the tennis to start. 

To say I managed to read the whole book before the majority of the tennis did begin, may give an idea as to how miserable the weather was that day! But thankfully i couldn't have found a better book to pass the time, if I had tried! 

Even on the tube on the way there, I was trying my hardest to not completely and utterly laugh out loud, at various ridiculously funny moments that totally tickled my funny bone, and would have got me some rather odd stares! 

It was a delight to read, Dolly "borrows" her new ex's campervan, and takes it somewhere she hopes no one will notice her, and her initially lime green van.  A hope that would have possibly been more likely had she not injured someone on her first night! Thankfully Reece is very easy going, and tries to look on the bright side of life - even when he has a tent pole in his leg! 

I loved the dynamics between Reece and Dolly, and how he is able to keep her calm and stop her from catastrophising!  

And Dolly is somehow able to bake in this campervan, and starts to make all sorts of retro bakes, which she is then encouraged to sell. 

There is a lovely community in the village and I loved the trio of gossip's attempts to find out info about Reece from Dolly! They are relentless but in a good way! 

This is another fantastic book from an author that always makes me smile.  I couldn't get enough of this story, and I say it really did brighten up what could have been a truly boring day otherwise!  I will though suggest have snacks while you are reading, as it could make you hungry - but perhaps after the first bit, as the descriptions around Dolly and Reece's first meeting may unsettle a stomach! 

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

Book Review - The Sweet Life Cafe by Helen Rolfe - #HolidayReading Tunisia

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Amazon UK

Title: The Sweet Life Cafe

Author: Helen Rolfe

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 17th January 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

Only a taste of home can heal old wounds ❤️‍🩹🧁☕️

When sisters Addie and Susanna receive invitations to a memorial for their Aunt Gayle, they’re heartbroken to learn the woman who raised them has passed away. But arriving on Anchor Island, they’re met with the shock of their lives: Gayle is alive and well, busily preparing her own 'Celebration of Life' at her beloved pudding bar, The Sweet Life Café.

Agreeing to stay for the event, the sisters begin sorting through their late father’s belongings, reopening wounds they thought long buried, and forcing them to reflect on their lives since leaving the island. Addie is struggling as a single mother, torn between love for her son and doubts about the life she can give him. Susanna’s marriage is crumbling, and being back on the island only reminds her why she couldn’t wait to escape.

But as Gayle prepares gooey brownies, steaming lattes and delicious cakes for her customers, and for her big event, she is hiding secrets of her own – including one that could change everything the sisters thought they knew about their family...

A story of reuniting a separated family by way of a living funeral. 

Gayle hasn't seen her nieces since Addie was old enough to leave Anchor Island and the rift in the family pains her. 

She's also suffering ill health and thinks a living funeral should be a way of hopefully attracting Addie and Susanne back home. Only the invite was missing a key word and the siblings get a rather big shock instead. 

Addie and Susannah have always been incredibly close, possibly not always in the healthiest way,, and they have never really been totally fair to Aunt Gayle. 

There is also Gayle's Sweet Life Cafe which sounds wonderful, and is key to so many key events in their various lives. 

It's a story about forgiveness, and understanding and family, and it was interesting to learn just why the siblings have such differing views of their own father. 

I loved Anchor Island, and getting to know various people on it, and also getting to see how the siblings lives change as a result of this one trip. 

A really uplifting read, and I would expect nothing less from this talented author. 

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