Book Review - Rumours, Romance and Rhubarb Crumble by Rosie Green

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Title: Rumours, Romance and Rhubarb Crumble

Author: Rosie Green

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Self Published

Publication Date: 29th March 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

When Gertie buys a run-down house 'by accident', she considers it the latest fail in a series of disasters! Her job at the Little Duck Pond Café and the friends she's made there are a big comfort – especially as temporary boss Alice seems to be going out of her way to make her life difficult. But then Gertie meets the handsome Rafe – and her life takes a turn she definitely wasn't expecting . . .

Have I mentioned recently how much I love this series, so seeing us return to the Duck Pond Cafe itself was a really nice bonus.  With Ellie, Katja and Maddy all featuring in this story, there is plenty for long running fans of the series to smile  about. 

Equally with most of the book featuring Gertie as the main character, even if you are new to the series, you get a new leading lady to root for!  

in fact Gertie isn't the only new person working in the cafe.  Ellie has decided to take a step back for a few months to focus on her family, and has hired Alice as a manager instead.   And wow what a difference in management styles they have. 

It's initially very hard to warm to Alice, but Maddy's digs at her, and reactions (or overreactions) are immensely amusing. 

And Gertie has met someone who appears to be the most perfect man for her,   Then there is also her new neighbour is acting rather oddly,  and keeps popping up frequently wherever she is. 

There is a lot of humour in this story, including the tale of how Gertie came to buy the house she is currently living in!  But equally there are more serious threads to it too, and the narrative takes us in unexpected directions. 

I do love it when an author can continually surprise you, and I'm loving Gertie, and delighted to see that she will be key in the next book too.  And I devoured this over a few short hours, unable to put it down for the majority of the book. 

I ran out of new words to describe this author and series about 20 books ago, so at the risk of repeating myself once again, I'll just say this is another wonderful addition to the series, and I'm already eager for more! 

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

Book Review - Girls Gone Rogue by Jo Lyons

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Title: Girls Gone Rogue

Author: Jo Lyons

Format reviewed: Paperback 

Source: Publisher supplied copy

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 20th October 2025

Rating: 5 Stars

Connie’s landed her dream singing gig and is off on tour!

Quickly caught up in a whirlwind of life with the world-class orchestra - jealous chorus girls, growing romantic tension with Luke the charming (and secretly royal) lead tenor and scandalous tabloid headlines - however, Connie starts to wonder if she's doing the right thing.

Not only that, but she’s juggling a new, long-distance relationship with Matteo, the brooding Spanish music producer who was love at first sight, and who’s increasingly hard to reach.

Are she and Matteo exclusive?

Is aristocratic millionaire Luke too good to be true?

Can Connie maintain her sanity while coordinating her best friends’ over-the-top Barbie-themed pre-wedding bonanza and her outrageous support band the Dollz booking her for gigs in Vegas?

When does a royal love triangle become more of a square?

What is clear, though, is that Connie Cooper is back. She’s in her fearless era, supremely talented – and not to be underestimated...

Continuing from where Girls Just Want To Have Sun finished, this is more Connie, more of the Dollz, more antics, more hilarity and more men! 

Connie is embarking on a tour with the opera company her mother used to sing for, and something she has wanted for a long while.  As a classically trained singer she is looking forward to singing operatic arias instead, of the commercial and sexy songs from the previous weeks in Benidorm. 

But instead of coming into the company and making friends, she seems to upset everyone instantly and is on the back foot from the beginning.  Especially managing to initially have a run in with Luke who she isn't aware is about to be the tenor she is singing with. 

Luke has a rather impressive pedigree and seems to want to pursue Connie, especially after discovering the magic they are making on stage when singing. 

Mateo her boyfriend is largely absent in this book, and Connie is rather naive when it comes to men by the looks of it.

There are so many hilarious moments in this book, which made me laugh out loud.  There is banter, there is drama, there are wardrobe malfunctions and a whole lot more.  This book and series is just so much fun, and I was loving every word of it. 

Love Connie and the Dollz so much, as well as Ged and Liam even if they are already starting to turn into bridezillas, and this is before they even get to their stag do (which is not what they are calling it). 

It was perfect to read in the garden in an afternoon during a heatwave, so is definitely perfect holiday reading too.  Just make sure you have the next book in the series to hand, as with the way this one ends, you will want to reach for the next one to continue instantly.... which is exactly what I've done!

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

Book Review - Undercover Honeymoon by Jo Watson - #HolidayReading Tunisia

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Amazon UK

Title: Undercover Honeymoon

Author: Jo Watson

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Headline Eternal

Publication Date: 28th May 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

When Private Investigator Lizzy Brown is hired to follow a cheating spouse, the last person she expects to run into is Cameron Anderson: the man she dated for a grand total of 6 hours, and the real reason she left the Police Academy all those years ago. Something Lizzy definitely isn't still bitter about.

Cam, tasked with a money-laundering case, never thought he'd find himself once again squaring off with Lizzy - and most certainly not in a romantic and glamorous Seychelles resort. But when their separate cover stories are put at risk, the pair are soon forced to masquerade as a honeymooning couple to cover their tracks.

Faking a marriage with your ex is bad enough, but when Lizzy and Cam find themselves tangled in a criminal conspiracy bigger than their bitterness, they realise that their relationship lie might be the only thing keeping them alive.

But as old feelings resurface, are they really just playing the part?

I loved this book a lot, and it felt a bit different, definitely a bit more high stakes than other Jo Watson books, which I was totally there for. 

Lizzy is in the Seychelles, as a private investigator trying to prove that Victor is cheating.  The last thing she expects is to end up in a closet with her kind of ex, but definitely nemesis Cam, who it turns out is on the island to investigate Victor on behalf of financial crime team.  What is very clear is that Lizzy and Cam have some chemistry, and that they both love to win. 

They also had a 6 hour "relationship" many years ago which went sour just as fast, when Lizzy comes across something and fails to believe Cam.  But yet they are now both trying to do the same sort of thing, and have realised the best way to get close to their target is to pretend to be in a fake relationship.  It's also to try to detract attention from the Mafia man who is also on the island, attempting to get to Victor, but could potentially wish to harm Lizzy and Cam. 

I always love any sort of fake dating type stories, and seeing Lizzy so far out of her comfort zone in so many ways was something I came to relish.  And I loved the dynamics between this pair too. 

Between getting to see some fabulous sights on the island, doing some great activities and trying to discover the truth there is plenty to love about this book.  And I thoroughly enjoyed everything, although some of the sex was perhaps a tad rough for my own personal preferences! 

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

Book Review - The Tea Room Inheritance by Hannah Langdon - #HolidayReading Tunisia

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Title: The Tea Room Inheritance

Author: Hannah Langdon

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Storm Books

Publication Date: 27th May 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

Welcome to The Coastal Kettle, a sun-drenched seaside tearoom where friendship is brewed strong and secrets run deeper than anyone suspected...

When Belle's fiancé calls off their wedding just nine days before the ceremony, her carefully planned life crumbles. With nowhere else to turn, she flees to the south coast to stay with her beloved godmother Diana – only to discover that Diana has gifted Belle everything she has: a seaside house and a charming tearoom, The Coastal Kettle.

Starting over in the picturesque village of Spindrift Bay, Belle throws herself into renovating the tearoom and learning to bake. Between rescued kittens, new friendships and the kindness of locals like handsome vet Luke, she begins to heal. But when Belle uncovers a decades-old family secret hidden in the house, she faces an impossible choice: reveal the truth and risk destroying the lives of those she's grown to love, or keep a secret for the woman who gave her everything...

A heartwarming tale of found family, second chances and the courage to start again. Perfect for fans of Heidi Swain, Phillipa Ashley and Holly Martin.

For an author that has been going from strength to strength, and this being her best book yet, it is such a shame that she has passed away and the world won't get to experience any more Hannah Langdon novels after this one. 

But what a way to finish, this book has so much, hidden family secrets, cute adorable kittens, new friends, plenty of baking and some tricky relationships just to name a few. 

And Belle really is not given the best start in this book, she is dumped by her fiancée a few days before the wedding, most of the wedding admin is then forwarded to her to deal with, and when it's decided she should stay with Diane her godmother to start to rebuild her life, she discovers as she arrives in Spindrift Bay that her beloved godmother had died just hours earlier. 

As Belle comes to terms with everything, she starts to really blossom and it was a joy to see. She makes new friends (Gloria is wonderful),  and is determined to re-open the tearooms once she has learnt to bake! 

I thoroughly enjoyed every last word of this story which was a delight to read. 

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

Book Review - I Owe You One by Lauren North

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Title: I Owe You One

Author: Lauren North

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: 8th April 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

She saved my life. I faked her death…

I only came back home to lie low and reconnect with my sister Bryony. Her life with her gorgeous husband Alex is perfect – a far cry from the disaster mine has turned into…

But almost immediately I can tell something is wrong. My once bubbly sister’s skin is pale, her hair dull, her eyes unfocussed. She tells me Alex has turned obsessive, controlling her every move. A tear tracks down her cheek as I stare at her in horror.

‘I have to fake my death,’ she whispers and I jolt back in shock. ‘And I need your help to do it.’ As I start to shake my head, mouth trembling, she lays her winning card down: ‘You owe me, Jess. I saved your life.’

But after she’s successfully disappeared, I realise there are holes in her story – things she’s told me about Alex that can’t be true. Threatening messages that can’t have come from him. Rumours in the village about the way she’s been acting. She doesn’t contact me like she promised – and rather than being angry she’s gone, Alex seems completely devastated…

Have I just saved my sister, or helped her get away with something terrible? And when the truth comes out, will I be the one whose life is in danger…?

An utterly page-turning, edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller that will have you reading late into the night! Perfect for fans of The Housemaid, The Couple Next Door and The Family Upstairs.

OMG Lauren North has done it again. 

This is a completely unputdownable psychological thriller, that I was never sure what would happen next. 

But I needed to know, so kept on reading and reading until I ran out pages, but did get a very satisfying conclusion. 

Bryony once saved sister Jess's life back when they were teens, so when Bryony asks Jess to help her fake her death, Jess feels like she can't refuse. 

There are big reasons why Bryony feels like she needs to disappear, and Jess is terrified at everything that could go wrong. But she might have an eye on how she could benefit too, after all she is only back in her home town after her life went very wrong. 

But nothing is as simple as it seems, and the more we go on, the more layers there are to this, on one level a rather simple story, that turns out to be anything other than simple. 

Ooh there are so many truths to be discovered and unravelled by Jess, it's simply brilliant. And I was totally there for all of them. 

I whizzed through this book in a few short hours, hooked beyond belief on what was unfurling.  Another hit for this talented author. 

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

Book Review - Brave New Summer by Sarah Morgan

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Amazon UK

Title: Brave New Summer

Author: Sarah Morgan

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HQ

Publication Date: 21st May 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

Evie is the acting general manager of The Alexandra hotel in picturesque Cornwall, but she feels trapped in a life defined by others’ expectations. Just as she contemplates a fresh start, Abby arrives, sent undercover by the hotel’s owner to assess the staff and operations. But Abby is navigating her own struggles and longs to break free from the shadow of her mother.

As the two women forge an unexpected friendship, they confront their fears and the threat of change looming over them. With the help of a charming chef and a gruff pub owner, they begin to embrace their true selves and the bonds that unite them. Will they find the strength to reshape their futures, or will the weight of the past hold them back?

Full of warmth and heart, Brave New Summer is a joyful and uplifting novel about friendship, romance and being brave, from the Number One Sunday Times bestseller, Sarah Morgan.

I could barely put this book down, I was totally engrossed in both Evie and Abby's story. 

They both have so many similarities to their upbringing, but are worlds apart in terms of how it has shaped them.  At least that is how it seems at first. 

They have base qualities in common, and I really enjoyed getting to know Evie and all of the hotel staff, and also seeing how Abby was adapting to life undercover in Cornwall. 

Abby's mother and boss Alexandra clearly has an ulterior motive for sending Abby to Cornwall for the summer, and she is also definitely hiding things. But all the theories I came up with as to what the truth could be, were off base by a fair bit. 

I loved seeing how both women grew and developed over a few short weeks and both of them having potential romance on the scene too. 

The community in this Cornish hotel is amazing, everyone knows everything and it makes things tricky for Eve in her personal and professional lives.  Whereas Abby seems to be able to get the best from people and has no idea just how special she is. 

In addition there are plenty of delicious sounding food courtesy of hotel chef Luca, who is simply divine. 

The writing was warm hearted and really pulled you into the story. It is another truly fabulous book from an author that never lets me down. 

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

Book Review - The Hopeful Hearts Bookshop by Debbie Johnson

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Title: The Hopeful Hearts Bookshop

Author: Debbie Johnson

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: 30th April 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

Take a leap of faith and come and visit our perfect little bookshop by the sea. You’ll find a warm welcome, friendship, and maybe even a new beginning…

Kate is more surprised than anyone to find herself, suitcase in hand, outside a bookshop in the middle of a tiny Scottish village, where seagulls cry and the sea is a shimmering blue. But when an anonymous invitation to Bonnie Bay fell from the pages of a book, it felt like the perfect way to escape her dead-end job and memories of her ex.

Twinkly-eyed and eccentric owner Moira gives Kate a haven in her cozy cottage. Moira sent the invitations out into the world, offering a fresh start to those who need it… but now, Moira can’t manage the shop alone. It breaks Kate’s heart to see the sweet elderly lady lose the place she loves.

And that’s the least of Kate’s problems. Brody, a grumpy, six-foot-four, silver fox arrives at the bookshop with an invitation just like hers. The only place for him to stay? Moira’s cottage, too…

But beneath his gruff exterior Brody has a warm heart. Soon he’s volunteering to help turn the shop around. And as they string fairy lights, fill the shop with cozy cushions, and mend the broken shelves, things between Kate and Brody are quickly heating up in surprising ways!

But will the bookshop – and the spark between them – last beyond the summer? Or will their fresh start come crashing down?

From the million-copy bestselling author of the Comfort Food Café series comes a brand-new, totally addictive and feel-good escapist romance with delicious steam and spice. Perfect for anyone who loves getting lost in a book – in more ways than one! Fans of Susan Mallery, Phillipa Ashley and Laurie Gilmore won’t be able to put this down.

What is fast becoming apparent to me is how amazing Debbie Johnson is at creating the most amazing settings for her books and series. 

Bonnie Bay felt pretty much instantly comfortable to me, there is a wonderful cast of locals in the village and I loved the idea of Moira sending out these postcards into the world, in the hopes that people will take her up on her kind offer of a place to stay. 

Both Kate and Brody find one of these postcards and for vastly different reasons they both decide to give it a shot, in Kate's case she is trying to see if she can become less invisible.  In Brody's, he is dreading going back home to Chicago, after settling his daughter into University in the UK.  

They are polar opposites, but you know what they say about opposites. 

And the bookshop itself needs a great deal of work but as Kate and Brody play to their respective strengths, it doesn't just bring hope to themselves it brings hope to Moira too - who had given up on the shop after an accident.  

There are many wonderful heartwarming moments in this, as well as some incredibly spicy ones.  I was loving every single word of this fabulous book.  And I can't wait to return to Bonnie Bay in the next book. 

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

Book Review - Anything For Love by Joanna Bolouri - #HolidayReading Dom Rep

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Amazon UK

Title: Anything For Love

Author: Joanna Bolouri

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Quercus

Publication Date: 21st May 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

A hilarious and heartfelt rom-com for anyone who's lost their faith in love.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO FIND THE ONE?

Sophie Smalls is happy with her life. She has a fabulous flat in London, a high-flying career in advertising, wonderful friends and a family she adores. But recently, something has been playing on her mind.

Sophie is in her mid-forties and has never been in love. And when she sees on Instagram that the only man she's ever properly fancied is engaged, a thought that was nagging at her becomes a full-blown crisis.

Panicked google searches follow, but luckily the internet is full of articles on how to fall in love and where to find it. One in particular catches her eye: '365 days of Yes' by Alex Stewart. Sophie decides to use this article as a guide - to say yes to everything and to put herself out there at all costs . . . to do anything for love. What could go wrong?

It's always a delight to read a book from Joanna Bolouri and this one was absolutely no exception. 

This was a story full of humour, and I absolutely loved Sophie's decision to have a year of saying yes to everything in the hopes of possibly finding love in an unexpected place. 

This leads to her having all sorts of adventures and then she takes a cruise.  As a massive cruise fan, I loved hearing about the ship, itinerary and all the fellow guests that Sophie meets. There are characters that I would definitely recognise, and the descriptions of the ports were really good too. 

I really enjoyed seeing what men Sophie was able to meet, and just seeing what was wrong with each of them. 

This was such an entertaining read that kept making me smile. Between the dating disasters and then the sunshine of the cruise, everything was a delight for me.  What a great poolside read, 

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

Book Review - Sleuths by Samantha Moody

Amazon UK

Title: Sleuths

Author: Samantha Moody

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 21st May 2026

Rating: 4 Stars

SHE’S A FAN

Melody runs a fan account for TV’s hottest regency romance actor, Griff Beckett. But when one of the photos she posts shows Griff in a romantic position with an unknown woman, angry fans turn on Melody and accuse her of the ultimate fan betrayal: posting a fake picture.

HE’S A CELEBRITY

Hurt and angry, Melody sets out to prove the photo is real and their favourite actor is no longer single…until, instead of a girlfriend, she finds a missing person report.

AND HE’S…KIDNAPPED SOMEONE?

It should be a job for the authorities, but nobody will take Melody seriously. She'll have to team up with her internet friends, and a (distractingly sexy) journalist, Levi, to save the day.

Can Melody solve the case, save the girl, and get her dream man in the process?

The perfect sexy and thrilling rom-com for fans of Butcher & Blackbird and Love in the Time of Serial Killers

Once I properly got into this book, it was practically unputdownable for me.  

But it took me a while to get that stage, possibly as I wasn't overly keen on Melody, but once her investigation into something initially was rather frivolous - does Griff actually have a girlfriend and is it or isn't it his co-star, turns into something much darker I was intrigued and invested into the outcome. 

Melody is a youtuber who posts specific fan relegated content for her favourite TV show, and is part of a ultra fan community for the programme. They are all obsessed with every single element of it, and it seems as though the story is highlighting just how toxic these sorts of fandoms can become. 

But at the same time, it also celebrates a fandom in a totally unexpected way and this is part of why I ultimately loved the book. But to go into the most exciting and fabulous bits of the book would definitely be spoilers so I will refrain. 

Melody isn't alone in her amateur detectives, her two moderators also are keen to help out and she also ends up involved with a journalist, but there is just something about him that makes you wonder just what side he is on. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, there are elements of danger, some romance, all manner of thrilling antics, and some engaging writing. And even a hint that I think there might be a sequel. 

Loved this team of sleuths! 

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

Book Review - Ride The Wave by Katherine Reilly

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Amazon UK

Title: Ride The Wave

Author: Katharine Reilly

Format reviewed: Paperback

Source: Publisher supplied copy

Publisher: Aria

Publication Date: 19th June 2025

Rating: 5 Stars

In surfing, everyone's chasing the perfect ride...

Twelve years ago, Leo Silva was a world champion surfer-until reckless partying and tabloid scandals ended his career. After a mysteriously sudden and early retirement, Leo retreated to a sleepy seaside village in Portugal, where he's remained out of the spotlight ever since. But when he receives a surprise invitation to compete in Australia's legendary Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach contest, the news of his comeback sends shockwaves through the surf world.

Enter Iris Gray, an ambitious sports journalist from London. Her editor wants her to make Leo and his comeback the topic of glossy Studio magazine's next big feature, but there's one small catch – he happens to be the son of TV star and media proprietor Michelle Martin, the owner of Studio. With a lot of pressure riding on this project and Iris's career hanging in the balance, there's simply no room for mistakes.

When Iris flies to Portugal, she expects to uncover the truth behind Leo's infamous past, but she is unprepared for his stubbornness-or the undeniable chemistry that simmers between them. But as her interviewee and the boss's son, Leo is strictly off-limits...

With a fierce rival threatening to derail Leo's comeback and the competition fast approaching, can they stay focused on their goals, or will love pull them under?

No matter what sort of romance Katherine Reilly turns her hands to (I say that having read her books under other pen names), I am always impressed and I greatly enjoyed Ride The Wave. 

I can't recall the last time I read a book that featured Surfing as it's main attraction, and not just any old surfing big time competitive surfing, and a surfer who is on the comeback trail. Leo has reluctantly agreed to be interviewed, for one of his mother's publications. 

The interviewer assigned to the job is sports journalist Isla, who is amazingly skilled at trying to draw information out of a person without them realising.  She also normally totally immerses herself in the sport of her subject.  Just one snag in this instance she is terrified of the water. 

Set in a small town in the Algarve, I fell for the community there, and really loved Leo's support system. And as Leo starts to open up, I fell for him too.  And the scenes where he helps Isla with her fear really melted my heart. 

And the actual competitive surfing action was definitely well researched, it matched up to my understanding of the sport from watching the coverage for both the 2020 and 2024 Olympics. 

I read this book on a nice sunny afternoon in the garden, and into the evening, and devoured it. I couldn't get enough of the characters and enjoyed every last second of it. 

I really need to get around to reading this author's other sports romances that I do have copies of.  I can't wait to see what she does with Tennis and Polo, given how much I loved her surfing writing. 

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