Book Review - The Arctic Cruise by Caroline James

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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. 

Book Review - Marry Me In Italy by Nicky Pellegrino - #HolidayReading Dom Rep

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Amazon UK

Title: Marry Me In Italy

Author: Nicky Pellegrino

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Orion

Publication Date: 12th September 2024

Rating: 4 Stars

A dream wedding in Italy?

It's the chance of a lifetime!

Skye has been with Tim forever and the last thing she's thinking about is saying 'I do'. It's Tim that enters the dream wedding competition - he's longing to win an all-expenses-paid trip to romantic Montenello. An escape to a beautiful Italian hill town might be just what they need to find love again...

Ana definitely isn't interested in getting married - she doesn't need a man to make her happy. But when she loses her job at a glossy food magazine, she jumps at the chance of a new life, renovating a crumbling Italian farmhouse. Her handsome (and very distracting) neighbour definitely isn't part of the plan.

One thing's for sure, this summer has surprises in store!

It was lovely to be back in the town of Montenello, which has featured in previous books from the author, 

It was a familiar setting to me, but with a whole new plot and brand new characters too. 

We have Ana, who is struggling with a new phase in her life, and Skye who is having relationship wobbles with Tim. 

Tim is a frustrating man to live with, but his heart seems in the right place even if his methods are mad.  He goes through a competition entering phase (something I'm very familiar with) and manages to win a biggy, but not without I'll say exaggerating on the entry.  A lot of compers do it, but I personally wouldn't to the extent he did. 

I was constantly peckish while reading this from the cakes that Skye makes to all the delicious dishes that Ana was eating. 

I really enjoyed seeing how the two stories would interlink as I couldn't figure out how it might be possible initially. 

And all the descriptions in Italy themselves are up to the author's typically fabulous level and made me long to be there. 

A really enjoyable story from an always fabulous author. 

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

Book Review - Tomorrow Starts Today by Jessica Redland - #HolidayReading Dom Rep

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Amazon UK

Title: Tomorrow Starts Today

Author: Jessica Redland

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 8th January 2026

Rating: 4 Stars

Escape to the Lakes with million-copy bestseller Jessica Redland for a BRAND NEW uplifting story of friendship and second chances 💓🫶🏻

⛵Every book in the Escape to the Lakes Series can be read as a standalone ⛵

It's never too late to find yourself... 💫

When she unexpectedly loses her husband, Yvonne Kellerman's world turns quiet and grey. Five years on, her days are filled with the gentle chatter of her loyal parrot, Trevor, and the comfort of her crafting table—but she can’t shake the feeling that life is slipping her by and Yvonne feels lost and lonelier than ever.

When she joins the local crafting club at Willowdale Village Hall, Yvonne expects nothing more than a few afternoons of sewing. Instead, amongst the other local crafters, she discovers friendship, laughter and a renewed appreciation for her gorgeous Lake District home. It’s a reminder that she isn’t alone and, with each new stitch, her confidence returns, and so does her belief that it's never too late for fresh starts and new beginnings.

When a familiar face from her past reappears, Yvonne finds herself standing at a crossroads: will she protect her heart, or embrace the chance to love—and truly live—again?

A heartwarming story of friendship, courage, and second chances by the million copy bestseller Jessica Redland.

It is lovely to return to Willowdale, in this fifth standalone book of the series, 

And with a whole new set of main characters to learn about, this was a truly lovely book. 

With our leading lady being Yvonne, who five years on has realised she needs to get her life back on track after the death of her beloved husband. 

The more I learnt about Yvonne's backstory the more my heart went out to her.  And there are even some OMG revelations! 

Yvonne takes the brave step of joining the local craft and cake club and it turns out to be her best ever decision. 

Friendships are formed, as are new business opportunities, in addition to hearing about a wide array of different crafts. 

I really enjoyed her new friendship group and tehri dynamics, and learning more about her new friends too. 

This is a moving story of finding happiness later in life and of not putting off things until tomorrow when they could be done today. 

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

Book Review - A Lot To Unpack by Portia MacIntosh - #HolidayReading Dom Rep

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Amazon UK

Title: A Lot To Unpack

Author: Portia MacIntosh

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 2nd October 2025

Rating: 5 Stars

It’s going to be a bumpy ride... 👀

Liberty’s just landed her dream job. The catch? It’s at Matcher, the dating app that ruined her life. After catching her boyfriend sending intimate pictures to everyone in a twenty mile radius, Liberty is struggling to get back into the dating game. Every man gives her the ick sooner or later.

Still, she’s having a great time travelling the world for work, until she’s assigned a secret mission: Travel to New York with her handsome and charming boss Jordan and swap out a contract from under his nose. It should be easy, but the more time Liberty spends with Jordan, the more she realises he might not be the bad boy she thought he was. But it turns out they’ve both got a lot to unpack, and Liberty still needs to complete her mission if she wants to keep her job - which means not breaking the one golden rule: do not fall for the boss!

A laugh-out-loud, rivals-to-lovers, working together, jet set romcom! A Lot to Unpack from Portia Macintosh

Another highly enjoyable and entertaining storeis from the pen of Portia MacIntosh. 

Liberty needs a new job, since it is obvious she can no longer work with her dick pic sending boyfriend. 

The one she gets to me seems to be too good to be true.  She's an assistant, waiting for people that need assitance, and in the meantime she is being flown all over the world. 

And while she waits she is encouraged to use Matcher and right reports on ot. Which leads to her to some rather amusing dates across the world. 

Until she meets Jordan, who is key to everthing, and that's where things get interesting! 

Full of the author's trademark humour this was a highly entertaining story to read.  And I especially loved the descriptions of the places she is sent to. 

Add in her cousin's wedding and various amusing family dynamics and you have yourself a fabulous book. 

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

Book Review - My Big Greek Island Ex-Scape by Sandy Barker

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Title: My Big Greek Island Ex-Scape

Author: Sandy Barker

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 19th January 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

Ally Novak is perfectly happy being single – in fact, her career depends on it.

As the Divorced Diva – blogger, brand ambassador and businesswoman extraordinaire – she’s spun three failed marriages into gold, building a brand that celebrates single life.

So when her wealthy ex-husband Julian invites her to front his new wellness retreat, Ally jets off to his exclusive Greek island, certain it’ll be just another glamorous gig.

What she doesn’t expect is to find another ex on the island – the one who got away, and the only one she can’t forget.

Is fate handing her a second chance at love, or is it simply a case of too many exes in paradise?

A delightfully fun romantic caper set on the glorious Greek island of Aetheria, from the bestselling author of Match Me If You Can

Utterly brilliant, possibly Sandy Barker's best book to date! 

I went into this book completely blind, I literally saw the author had a new book and knew I wanted to read it.  I never even read the blurb so I had absolutely no idea other than presumably a book based in Greece, what would be contained in the pages. 

The prologue captured my attention instantly, and made me intrigued by Ally and just what bonkers tale she was promising to tell us. For she let us know it was going to involve not one but two of her three ex-husbands, while on a private and luxurious Greek Island. 

She agreed to the trip to help out ex 3 - Julian, with promotion as she is now the Divorced Diva on social media, and helps empower divorced women, and has a fabulous platform. What she didn't realise until she was already on the island is that Tommy, ex number one, and the one that really did get away, has been hired and is working on the island too. 

So suddenly instead of a potentially awkward few days with one ex, she now has two of them at once to contend with.  When you add in that Tommy is warning Ally to leave the island immediately and that there is a lot more to that statement than meets the eye, and you have the ingredients for a wonderful book. 

This has various twists and turns and I definitely was shocked by elements of it, but it also has sizzling sexual chemistry, a possible new friendship, and some fabulous descriptions of the hotel and the island itself. Plus Naxos where there is a lovely excursion which included some lovely innuendo at a cookery class! 

I don't think I can explain just how genius this story is, it felt quite unique in terms of concept and the bits I'd most love to talk about would definitely be spoilers. 

I devoured this story and couldn't have enjoyed it more.  

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