Book Review - Cross My Heart by Esha Patel

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Amazon UK

Title: Cross My Heart

Author: Esha Patel

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 22nd May 2025

Rating: 4 Stars

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book Review - Witch Trial by Harriet Tyce

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Amazon UK

Title: Witch Trial

Author: Harriet Tyce

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Wildfire

Publication Date: 26th February 2026

Rating: 4 Stars

Two teenage girls. One murdered classmate.

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

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

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

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

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

And what really happened to Christian Shaw?

Let the Witch Trial begin . . .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Amazon UK

Title: Match Me If You Can

Author: Heidi Shertok

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Embla Books

Publication Date: 30th October 2025

Rating: 4 Stars

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Amazon UK

Title: Vengeful Women

Author: Melanie Blake 

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Piranha Publishing

Publication Date: 3rd November 2025

Rating: 5 Stars

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

Five women.

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

One island.

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

Countless secrets.

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

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

Ah-may-zing!

A triumph! 

Wowzer!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Amazon UK

Title: MotherFaker

Author: Anna Brook-Mitchell

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Macmillan

Publication Date: 26th February 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

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

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

She isn’t pregnant.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book Review - The Island Retreat by Cathy Kelly

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Amazon UK

Title: The Island Retreat

Author: Cathy Kelly

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: 26th February 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

Six guests. One week to uncover their secrets.

Rose Talisman is pinning it all on a fresh start.

Five years after her career as a therapist ended in one catastrophic instant, she is opening a retreat in Corfu. The understated, luxurious Villa Artemis is surrounded by wild pines and sea views.

Just six guests. One week. Time for Rose to help them face their secrets – and move forwards.

But Rose has staked everything on the retreat. It has to work – or she loses it all. And people’s secrets have a way of revealing themselves in ways no one expected.

Nobody’s past is staying hidden for long…

Will that include Rose’s, too?

It's been a long while since I last read a Cathy Kelly novel, and having just finished The Island Retreat I have no idea why I left it so long. 

I was totally and utterly fascinated by The Island Retreat.  I loved Rose's approach to therapy and how she is trying to help the six guests on this debut retreat in Corfu. 

All the guests are all so different, but they definitely need help, whether they realise it or not, and some of their stories really did get under my skin. 

And I loved the setting of Corfu, and the nearby town of Xanthe (even if I initially kept reading it as Zante, which of course is another Greek Island).  Rose, Adriana and Christos have created a wonderful hotel and retreat and their yoga instructor is rather tasty! 

But at the same time it is clear that Rose is hiding something from her past, which has stopped her from having relationships, and that someone is now threatening to expose.  Some of the past secrets are really hard to read, but the author deals with difficult subjects with sensitively and it all felt authentic. 

I found that when I wasn't reading this, my mind was on the characters, and hoping they would all get the resolutions they deserved.  

Thoroughly enjoyed this story and I have made a mental note not to leave it so long between Cathy Kelly novels in future! 

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

Book Review - Murder at the Duomo by T. A. Williams

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Amazon UK

Title: Murder at the Duomo

Author: T. A. Williams

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 2nd February 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

Even angels can have a dark side...

As the sticky heat of August settles over Florence, Dan Armstrong is ready for a well-earned break—sightseeing with fiancée Anna, daughter Tricia and her fiancé Shaun. But when a British man is found dead inside the city’s magnificent Duomo, Dan’s plans quickly change.

The victim, Tristan Angel, is a super-wealthy arms dealer with a saintly name and a devilish reputation. But what was he doing in the cathedral, and who decided to make it his final confession?

At Angel’s opulent villa in the hills of Fiesole, Dan and Commissario Virgilio encounter a colourful cast of suspects—each one hiding secrets and none too eager to talk. As tempers rise and the heat outside grows ever more intense, Dan and his four-legged sidekick, Oscar, must sniff out the truth before the killer strikes again.

What on earth can you say about a book when it's the fourteenth book in a series and every single one of them so far has been utterly brilliant. 

I am totally out of new words for T. A. Williams, and short of inventing some, which would make no sense to anyone else, I may need to sound repetitive. 

For this is another excellent addition to this series. 

Officer Oscar is certainly earning his honorary title, as once again his nose for locating key information is spot on and put to good use.  And this is all the more vital in an investigation that potentially has every international agency interested in the outcome. 

For its an arms dealer that has been murdered, in the Duomo in Florence, and to say it's not just the local police interested would be a possible understatement.  At least until there is a second murder at which point in theory the group of suspects lessens, but at the same time it gets even more complicated. 

There are many different theories and possible motives being suggested by Dan and the police,  but I had absolutely no inkling as to the truth. 

I enjoyed seeing how Dan and Virgilio and his team worked this case out, while also being astounded that given how often there seems to be murders involving English speakers in and around Florence, that the police haven't hired a proper translator by now! 

I'm also thinking that the area may not be that safe to travel to as an English national, given the regularity of dead people showing up! 

Another highly enjoyable addition to this series, which I am still loving as much as I did as the start of it. 

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

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.