Book Review - How To Be Fabulous by Carmen Reid - #HolidayReading Dom Rep

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Amazon UK

Title: How To Be Fabulous

Author: Carmen Reid

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 23rd January 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

Family, fashion, fiascos—this is how to be fabulous. 💃🏼

Busy mum. Fashion guru. Domestic disaster waiting to happen?

When Annie Valentine agrees to help her best friend Svetlana pull off a charity fashion show, she thinks it’ll be a breeze. After all, no one knows couture quite like Annie, so how hard can it be?

Answer: very. With no venue, no clothes, and definitely no showstopper, Annie’s in danger of her first ever fashion fail.

And just when the wardrobe rails are about to collapse, her family life does too. Daughter Lauren is home from New York with a broken heart, son Owen is off to university with an empty wallet, and Annie is hanging on by a thread.

But when a mystery donation arrives in to save the day—and Annie—it feels like she might just pull it all together. That is, until Owen goes AWOL and everything unravels.

Now Annie has to prove, once and for all, that she really does know How to be Fabulous—on the runway and at home.

Annie Valentine is back! That is always a reason for me to celebrate, given how much I love this series. 

And it's another joyously funny story in this series, with a fair few ups and downs. 

I am struggling to believe that Owen is now old enough to go to university, and it's sweet to see the twins are- starting nursery and how different their personalities already are.

In the centre of this book we have a giant charity fashion show and Annie is running out of time to organise that and do a million and one other things as the same time. 

It's great to catch up with so many old friends, while seeing Annie at her chaotic best. 

There's fashion, humour, friendship, a small mystery and a whole lot more between these pages, and I was devouring every word of it.  

It's another wonderful addition to this series and one I joyously read in an afternoon. 

And I already can't wait for hopefully another book in this series. 

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

Book Review - Letting Go Of Yesterday by Jo Bartlett - #HolidayReading Dom Rep

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Amazon UK

Title: Letting Go Of Yesterday

Author: Jo Barlett

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 9th November 2025

Rating: 5 Stars

Sometimes the only way forward… is to go back.

When Rowan Bellamy’s marriage collapses in spectacular style, she retreats with her two children, Bella and Theo, to the last place she ever wanted to return—her windswept Cornish hometown of Port Agnes. Taking the headteacher role at the local primary school is the easy part. Facing village gossip, curious neighbours, and old flames? Not so much.

Especially when one of those flames turns out to be Nathan Lark — the boy who broke her heart and the man who now has a reputation as bruised as her own. With his young nephew Leo a pupil in Rowan’s school, she and Nathan are thrown into each other’s lives once more. And whether she likes it or not, the chemistry between them is impossible to ignore.

As salty sea air begins to soothe old wounds and Port Agnes slowly feels like home again, Rowan must decide if she’s brave enough to let go of the past and open her heart one more time.

A heartwarming, emotional story of second chances, seaside charm and the healing power of coming home. Let top ten bestseller Jo Bartlett sweep you away with an uplifting, emotional read —perfect for fans of Veronica Henry, Sarah Morgan and Cathy Bramley.

I believe I have probably said it before and I'm sure I will say again in the future, how much I love Jo Bartlett's Cornwall, especially the three ports area. 

So I was delighted to see a whole host of familiar faces from her other series, appearing in this one, including some of the midwives, and of course Gwen. 

But this is new series and I believe it will be centring around  the local primary school, or at least this first one did. 

Rowan is the new headmistress of the school, but her own children aren't as happy to be in Cornwall as she is. 

Nathan is a very hands on uncle to Leo, who is the most adorable and kind hearted little boy. 

Rowan and Nathan used to have teen crushes on each other, and it's clear something is still there, but for a whole manner of reasons they need to be cautious. 

I adored every word of this book, and was impressed with how much depth there was.  

There is Rowan's soon to be ex-husband's story, the condition Leo is dealing with, Nathan's past, plus elements of blended families and resilience from children as just some of the themes in this book. 

A truly remarkable story that I loved every single second of.  And I can't wait to see what that next book will bring. 

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

Book Review - Golden Girls on the Run by Judy Leigh

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Amazon UK

Title: Golden Girls on the Run

Author: Judy Leigh

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 6th December 2025

Rating: 4 Stars

Age is just a number. Trouble is a lifestyle.

When octogenarian sisters-in-law Sadie and Bronagh find themselves at the centre of a scandalous (and slightly explosive) bake-off fiasco, there’s only one thing to do – steal Sadie’s grandson’s gleaming red Ferrari and make a run for it.

Sadie is the practical one, all cardigans and contingency plans. Bronagh treats rules as loose suggestions – especially if mischief or wine is involved.

What begins as a quick getaway across Ireland soon spirals into a wild, cross-country adventure filled with fake identities, unexpected friendships, and more than a few brushes with the law.

Sadie and Bronagh may be on the run, but what they find at the journey’s end might just be what they were missing all along…

A heartwarming, hilarious tale of rebellion, rediscovery, and the true meaning of family.

If you love cake, then you will love this. 

There is fair amount of cake and other food in this book, including various baking competitions! With at least one of which involved cheating, and a policeman ending up with his face planted in a cake!  

If you love road trips then you will love this 

Sally and Bronagh end up "borrowing" grandson Rory's Ferrari to make a getaway, after upsetting that policeman, and they drive off to Dublin to let tempers calm down.  Only one thing leads to another including dancing on a bar, and then Bronagh decides vising some relatives in Devon is an even better idea, and they head off to England. 

Only the rest of the family have no idea until they receive postcards, and the family member they are trying to visit is away himself. 

If you love animals then you will love this. 

The runaway octogenarians end up staying at an animal rescue and are enchanted by the horses, donkey and alpacas especially.  To the extent that Sadie is determined to help the rescue out and raise awareness of it.  Especially after  the rest of their family a few days behind them arrive in town, in a fabulous array of vehicles and become equally enchanted by the area.

What starts as an overnight in Dublin, turns into a fabulous holiday for the whole of the O'Connor clan! 

There are though rather a lot of characters, and trying to keep up with all the family members was slightly confusing at times. 

If you have read The Vintage Village Bake Off, then you will recognise the Devonshire setting and will become reacquainted with Robert, Tressie, Harriet and Bunty.  But if you haven't then don't worry as this totally works as a standalone novel. 

I absolutely love Judy Leigh's later in life characters and Sadie and Bronagh were a real joy to meet and love.  And I really loved most of the characters generally, in addition to all the foodie descriptions.  This is set in the run up to Christmas, but although there is a lovely festive feeling to all of this, it can easily be read at any time of year. 

Another totally loveable book from this author. 

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

Book Review - The Heat of the Moment by Camilla Isley

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Amazon UK

Title: The Heat of the Moment

Author: Camilla Isley

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 16th February 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

When a slow-burn attraction finally catches fire...

Four years after losing her husband in the line of duty, ER nurse Lily Finnigan has one goal: raise her daughter and keep her heart safely locked away. Romance—even a simple fling—isn’t on the agenda. Until Josh Collins walks into her emergency room.

Gorgeous, charming, and infuriatingly kind, he is everything Lily doesn’t want—but can’t seem to stay away from. When her apartment floods, her new helpful neighbor turns out to be the sexy firefighter she’s been dreaming of. Now he’s everywhere—offering help, stealing smiles, and slowly breaking down her walls.

Lily insists they can only be friends. She swore she would never fall for another firefighter. But the more time she spends with Josh, the more impossible that promise becomes. And when Josh risks his life fighting a wildfire, Lily’s heart shatters with the truth she’s been avoiding: she’s already fallen. The moment he walks back through her door battered and bruised but safe, Lily’s instinct is to run from her past and her future… But Josh won’t let her go that easily.

Don't miss this uplifting second chance romance from Camilla Isley which will make you laugh and cry!

I think I'm in love.

Josh is a total dreamboat of a man, and is utterly perfect. 

He has to be the best book boyfriend I've read about for a long time. 

And if Lily isn't sure whether she wants him or not, then I'll happily take her place! 

For Josh is a fireman, and Lily is adamant that she can't risk her heart to another fireman, after she and her young daughter Penny were widowed.  (She was married to a fireman). 

Lily is trying her hardest not to let Josh in, she feels an instant attraction to him, but is still not ready to move on, but agrees to be friends.  It's just Josh lives in her building, happens to be rather handy and totally charms Penny too. 

This is a romance that creeps up on Lily, at least the depth of her feelings.  While we also get chapters from Josh's point of view, and there are certain hair raising adrenalin pumping scenes especially relating to his job.

I can't over state just how amazing Josh is, he is definitely my new favourite character that I've read about so far this year.  And I was totally hooked on the will they won't they aspect of the book.  

I devoured this story so quickly and loved every second of it.  Emotional in places, hot in others, it's another truly fabulous book from Camilla Isley. 

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

Book Review - The Arctic Cruise by Caroline James

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Amazon UK

Title: The Arctic Cruise

Author: Caroline James

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 15th January 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

Will the Arctic wonderland work its magic this winter?

Joy never imagined stepping aboard a cruise ship without her husband, Tom. Now widowed, Joy wonders what her voyage on the Emerald Dream will hold – and as it glides through breathtaking Norwegian fjords, she longs to believe in happiness again. However, she carries a secret that could unravel her fragile hopes if it ever came to light…

Elsewhere on deck, as the sun dips below the horizon and the polar night sets in, Henry, a lifelong bachelor, is living his dream of seeing the Northern Lights. Having long since given up on love, he now dedicates himself to his passion for photography. But when he meets Joy, is it more than the aurora borealis that catches his eye?

As they embark on a snow-dusted adventure which takes them from bustling ports to reindeer-drawn sleigh rides, will Joy and Henry find the courage to embrace love again? Or will hidden truths sink the possibility of a new beginning?

A heartwarming, feel-good voyage of self-discovery, romance and second chances, perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Judy Leigh.

As I believe I may have said before Caroline James and Cruising is a great combination.  And Caroline James and Christmas is a great combination.  And I've always wanted to cruise at Christmas so this was clearly the sort of book I was always going to love. 

And love it I definitely did! 

Absolutely wonderful to be back on board the Emerald Dream, and with some vaguely familiar faces from previous books back, and a whole raft of new guests, this was another book that I totally and utterly adored. 

What a totally amazing assortment of characters.  From the over privileged Barbara and Kenneth who I couldn't help but laugh at most of the time, to Lady Eleanor who is a remarkable and dignified woman. 

Although this is loosely connected to the previous books involving cruises by this author, this can easily be read as a standalone story, even with a few familiar faces. 

Then there is Joy who is one of our main characters, who should have been on this cruise with husband Tom, for their wedding anniversary, but he is no longer alive, and Joy is just starting to recover from his death.  It's clear things weren't as they seemed in the marriage, and I loved seeing Joy really start to find her way back to herself and grow in confidence as the story progresses. 

We also have Henry, who is the other solo traveller at the table Joy is dining at in the main dining room, and he is a fascinating man. I was, like Joy not totally sure what his feelings towards the Audrey he kept mentioning where, but I did have an inkling as to the truth.  He is also a passionate photographer and fascinated by the Northern Lights.  

I absolutely loved the descriptions of the ports of call, and the various trips that Joy and her new friends were taking at each of them.  I especially loved the sound of the reindeer experience, which is definitely something I will need to do eventually (if I ever decide to brave a proper cold weather holiday). 

There was so much for me to love about this book, and I enjoyed every single moment of it.  It was a joy to read, and I devoured the pages and couldn't get enough of it.  And I'm already excited for Caroline James' next cruise book. 

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

Book Review - Love Ahoy! by Jo Lyons

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Amazon UK

Title: Love Ahoy! 

Author: Jo Lyons

Format reviewed: Ebook 

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 14th February 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

Maddie Summers has never been the impulsive type. So taking a new job as a holiday rep in Turkey is way out of her comfort zone. Will embarking on a boat trip with a host of demanding passengers see her all at sea - literally?

But then there’s Jackson, the sexy Australian rep who she’s falling for, hook, line and sinker. Though any chance of romance is complicated by Maddie’s gift for chaos, the powerful family onboard ship (including their light-fingered five-year-old), and a supervisor with secrets he’ll do anything to keep hidden.

Amid the rough waves of jealous crewmates, missing jewellery and even a potential man overboard, Maddie must be brave and throw logic to the wind. Can she take a risk and set a course for love?

This funny, hot, spicy rom-com is perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella, Portia MacIntosh and Abby Jimenez.

Jo Lyons is fast becoming one of my favourite authors, especially after reading Love Ahoy! which was totally and utterly entertaining. 

Set in the mid 90's so before the internet was widely available, let alone smart tech etc.. but as package holidays were going from strength to strength, this was a wonderfully nostalgic book for me. 

Not just for the 90s, but also because I spent a few seasons as a children's rep for TUI and thus could relate to Maddie a lot, especially in not overly feeling like she belongs.  Although in my case it's because I'm not a huge drinker and was generally a bit older than the rest of the reps.  Whereas Maddie believes she has been hired to work in accounts at head office in Bodrum, but in fact is made to be a rep with the not overly professional Bodrum South team, and to spend a week on a Gulet, hosting a rather rich and powerful family. 

Maddie has never flown before, and so her opening chapters, leaving for the airport, her mother's worry, and then the reminder that back in the 90s you could smoke on planes and that airport security wasn't like it is now.  I even enjoyed that she was flying on a Thomson plane (who would of course years later in real life become TUI).   

Maddie's first encounter with the LoveIt Holidays reps is in the coach park of the airport, when she implies she can do their job better than they can, and it leads to a nightmare of a situation.  Having had to deal with airport transfers myself in Mallorca, I could picture everything so so clearly 

Her encounters with Jackson and her first night in resort, were surreal, and totally in line with the sorts of antics you would potentially expect.  

And the boat trip itself, well the rest of the team are iffy, some more so than others, and add in a kleptomaniac 5 year old boy who is utterly adorable and incredibly smart and observant, and the lot of horny young people, getting up to stuff in any semi private space possible and you have the ingredients for a hilarious book 

This whole story just felt so familiar to me (Ok maybe not one of the latter storylines, I definitely didn't experience the bits I can't spoil for anyone), and I devoured it over the course of an afternoon (when I possibly should have been working, but didn't want to leave the book).

Loved every single word of this.  Bring on the next book from this author! 

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

Book Review - Hooked On You by Ada Barumé

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Amazon UK

Title: Hooked On You

Author: Ada Barumé

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 10th April 2025

Rating: 3 Stars

This job is about to hook, line and sink her…

Ore has (almost) landed her dream job as an investigative reporter for the New Yorker. There’s only one catch – they’ll only give her the job if she can get the scoop on working for the elusive billionaire Chuck Regas To write the article, she’s got to spend two weeks on his luxury yacht off the coast of Australia, and convince the crew to spill the beans.

Daniel has (almost) landed his dream job as captain of a super yacht down under. There’s only one catch – he has to take one last job, chartering a yacht for an eccentric billionaire, and making sure an unfairly beautiful journalist doesn’t distract his crew from their work.

But making sure Ore doesn’t sink his chances of staying on course by sea-ducing his crew turns into a much harder job than Daniel expected. Ore’s also finding her assignment more difficult than she ever thought, thanks to the crew’s loyalty to Captain Daniel, but also, the waves of attraction towards him that keep crashing over her.

This was an enjoyable book, but I just felt as though I wanted more from it.  

I wasn't totally convinced by the chemistry between Ore and Daniel, and for a book set on a super yacht, I was hoping perhaps from a bit more of the places that were being visited, especially when it's on a trip around New Caledonia, so nice and exotic for this reader!  

That being said I loved the investigative journalistic instincts that Ore has, as she was sent to write a puff profile piece on the billionaire Chuck, but then feels that there is far more to the story than she first thinks.  

I though struggled to take to most of the characters, some by design, and although I was happy enough reading this book, and on paper it should have been something that I would have devoured and been raving about - it just fell a bit flat for me.

I think I just had too high expectations for this book that stood no chance in reality.  I enjoyed the author's writing style though and would be interested in perhaps reading another in the future from from her. 

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

Book Review - Mending Hearts at the Cornish Country Hospital by Jo Bartlett - #HolidayReading Dom Rep

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Amazon UK

Title: Mending Hearts at the Cornish Country Hospital

Author: Jo Bartlett

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 23rd September 2025

Rating: 5 Stars

A fresh start…

For A&E nurse Eden Grainger, Port Kara offers more than just a safe haven. It's a chance to break free from her ex Jesse and start a new life. Her focus now is solely on her four-year-old son, Teddie, whose autism means he sees the world in his own unique way.

A guarded heart…

Pathologist Drew Redford prefers to keep himself to himself in the busy hospital. Shaped by family loss and navigating life with high-functioning autism, he finds comfort in certainty. But when Eden and Teddie enter his world, an unexpected connection forms, especially through his gentle interactions with little Teddie.

A kindred connection…

Despite a growing fondness, both Eden and Drew are cautious. Eden is wary of repeating old mistakes, and Drew struggles with letting people in. But Teddie continues to bring them together and Eden thinks this could be the start of something really special. But when Jesse returns, Eden is thrown into turmoil and makes a mistake that could cost her everything.

Now Drew must decide if protecting his heart means losing the unexpected warmth Eden and Teddie have brought into his life.

I couldn't get enough of this fabulous book. 

From the first meeting of both Eden and Drew, I was drawn to their characters and was interested to see where their stories would take them. 

Eden is a single mother to Teddie who is on the ASD spectrum. He's a loveable young boy, and Eden is trying her hardest to do her best for him. 

Drew is also on the spectrum, and is a pathologist at the hospital.  He is a remarkable person, and just the sort of friend that Eden needs. 

This is another wonderful story in this series.  I enjoyed these characters a lot, and was also impressed to see them working too. 

Was of course good to catch up with other familiar faces, including Gwen, the ever present face in a St Piran set novel! 

I found this to be a really quick and interesting book to read, and I'm already ready to read the next book in the series. 

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

Book Review - The Floating Venice Bookshop by Annabel French - #HolidayReading Dom Rep

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Amazon UK

Title: The Floating Venice Bookshop

Author: Annabel French

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 12th February 2026

Rating: 4 Stars

Can a bookshop bring two hearts together?

Beth loves everything about living in Venice. The meandering canals and the cobbled streets have captured her heart, so when she loses her job and fears she’ll have to return to England, she’s devastated.

When she stumbles upon a book barge for sale, it seems like fate. Beth has always dreamed of opening a bookshop that combines her two passions: art and books. She just needs to be brave enough to take the leap.

Enter Marco, a gorgeous, passionate Venetian art promoter. Their chemistry is instant and electric, but Beth needs Marco’s local knowledge to launch her business and the last thing she wants is a distraction. However, as they work together, it becomes clear how hard it is to ignore the sparks flying between them.

The closer they become, the more their attraction grows. Soon, they will have to choose: should they face their fears and give love a chance? Or walk away forever?

A heartwarming, escapist romance, perfect for fans of Julie Caplin and Cressida McLaughlin.

I'm really enjoying Annabel French's floating shop series.  I love escaping to new locations via a book, and these books are hitting all the right notes for me. 

This one is set in Venice, and Beth who tends to be a planner in most of her life, suddenly starts making life changing decisions based on gut instinct. 

And this change of approach leads her to buying The book barge, despite never having worked in a bookshop before. 

But she is a massive book lover, and thus, she knows what could be done to make this barge reach its full potential. 

Well with a little help from her friend Cesca, and her new friend Cesca's brother, the smoking hot Marco. 

I enjoyed seeing how Beth and Marco's connection started to grow, both professionally and personally. 

And I loved getting to know Venice through Beth's eyes, in addition learning more bout the city during Carnevale. 

This was a highly enjoyable story, that kept me interested throughout. 

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

Book Review - A Magical New Year's Kiss by Jennifer Joyce

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Amazon UK

Title: A Magical New Year's Kiss

Author: Jennifer Joyce

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Hera

Publication Date: 21st August 2025

Rating: 4 Stars

Should your fairy tale be this much work?

After a bad run of dating, Daisy is shocked when she meets her friends one night and it appears to be New Year's Eve in the future. Even more amazingly, Daisy is holding hands with a man she can feel is her true love.

At midnight they kissand it all fades away. The one detail about him she can clearly recall is that his watch was cracked.

So when she meets her new boss Joshua, she is shocked to see that his watch face is cracked. He must be her dream man!

The only problem is she just can't stand him.

Still, Daisy has faith in her vision and sets to work to turn them from enemies to lovers. They begin to date and Daisy follows the tiny clues from her dream, hell bent on making it come true.

But is he really her perfect man? Or is she chasing after the wrong Prince Charming?

A magical romcom perfect for fans of Sophie Cousens, Catherine Walsh and Josie Silver

I really enjoyed the dynamics of Daisy's friendship group with Jesy and Callum.  They have known each other for many years and have shared a lot together. 

Both Jesy and Callum are engaged (not to each other), and Daisy is struggling with a string of bad dates, until  she suddenly has a vision of herself at New Year's Eve, feeling incredibly in love, but she isn't sure who the man is.  She can recall a couple of key details and when she discovers the dress she was wearing in her vision, in a local shop she starts to think it might be a premonition. 

And from there she is determined to meet this unknown dream guy, and has most of the year to do so, as she knows by New Year's Eve she will be in love. 

Just one small snag, the most likely guy she believes matches the details, may just be her new nightmare boss!  And as the story progresses, although I liked Daisy and Joshua together at times, I just wanted to bash Daisy's head in a different direction as I was becoming convinced someone else would be far better for her. 

To say this quest for true love even when it has been predicted isn't as smooth and easy going as you might think, would be a slight understatement.  

Daisy frustrated me so much at times, but what did make me smile a lot was Jesy, and her various insights into what was happening to her in line with the other part of Daisy's vision.  Jesy is just fabulous! 

This was an entertaining story. 

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