Book Review - Guilty Mothers by Angela Marsons - #BlogTour

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Amazon UK

Title: Guilty Mothers

Author: Angela Marsons

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: 30th May 2024

Rating: 5 Stars

She lies on the floor, her blue eyes wide and unseeing, arms outstretched as if begging for help. Kneeling next to her, wearing a purple sequinned ballgown and holding a knife in shaking hands, is her daughter…

In a quiet kitchen, where two mugs wait by the kettle to be filled, Sheryl Hawne lies in a pool of blood. Her only daughter, Katie, is found at her side, still clutching the murder weapon and apparently incapable of speech. To Detective Kim Stone, the case seems open and shut. But Katie is in no state to be questioned, so Kim and the team must dig deep to understand what triggered this brutal act.

Soon, they learn that Katie participated in beauty pageants as a child, and her mother kept a shrine to her achievements. As Kim gazes at the golden trophies and shiny rosettes, she is forced to wonder if this was what set Katie on the path to murder…

But then Kim receives a shocking call. Another woman is dead. And with Katie safely locked up, she cannot be the killer. The second victim also entered her daughter in pageants, and a broken tiara is found thrust down her throat. Someone clearly feels that these mothers are guilty – and that they deserve to die. Forcing back the memories of her own monstrous mother, Kim vows to find justice for these women, no matter what pain they caused.

Now more than a day behind their killer, Kim races to learn more about a competitive world where appearances are everything and mothers will go to any lengths to ensure their daughters triumph. Buried somewhere in this dark past is the key to unlocking the case… but will Kim be able to find it before another family is destroyed forever?

The twentieth book in the international, multi-million-copy bestselling series, Guilty Mothers will have you glued to the pages. Fans of Karin Slaughter, Val McDermid and Robert Dugoni will devour this gripping crime thriller.

I can't believe we are twenty books into this amazing series already. Feels like only yesterday I was sitting down and devouring the first DI Kim Stone book which had me hooked for life! 

I adore this series, and Guilty Mothers is another wonderful addition to it. 

Not only do we have the main case which is set within the world of childhood beauty pageants, Tink is also back and has asked Kim for help with a situation which  was heart breaking.  In fact this side storyline held my attention and had me possibly even more invested than the main one.  And seeing Tink work with Penn was a fresh dynamic and interesting to see. 

Stacy is back to her best after her ordeal in the previous book, which I was very happy to see, and the Kim and Bryant partnership is a enjoyable and brilliant as ever. 

It is a far more complex case than it first seemed, but then again it would have been a very short book had the person standing over the dead body, holding the murder weapon, been guilty! So I was sort of glad when the body count rose, as it meant we got to see Kim's team do what they do best! 

This was one of those rarer crime books where I did have sympathy for the murderer, but there is no excuse for what they did. I loved hearing about this world which was so unfamiliar to Kim. 

I was hooked on this book and couldn't read it fast enough.  I didn't remotely guess correctly, and I was over the moon with the way the case that Penn and Tink were working on was resolved and dealt with. 

Another wonderful addition to this addictive series. 

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

Book Review - The Italian Holiday by Catherine Mangan

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Amazon UK

Title: The Italian Holiday

Author: Catherine Mangan

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Sphere

Publication Date: 23rd May 2024

Rating: 5 Stars

Escape to Italy and fall in love with this perfect summer read...

Floundering junior travel writer Katie has just been given the opportunity of her career. Her boss can't make her trip to the idyllic but little-known Italian island of Ponza, and Katie must step into her luxurious designer shoes to write the piece for the magazine. Boarding the plane with her best friend Farrah, Katie waves goodbye to her unglamorous domestic trips and hello to a week of sun, sand and sparkling seas.

But then disaster strikes. Farrah is involved in an accident and Katie must stay by her side for a month while she recovers. Katie is in panic-mode, trying to appease both her micro-managing boss and her passive-aggressive boyfriend back in New York, while an intriguing local chef, Nico, tries to show her all that the island has to offer.

As she gets to know Nico and falls in love with the relaxed pace of the island, Katie begins to question her life back home and what she truly wants. But will she figure out what's truly important to her before it's too late?

A glorious and uplifting escapist novel set against the stunning backdrop of the Italian coast. The perfect holiday read for fans of Rosanna Ley, Jo Thomas and Karen Swan

I've just spent a glorious few hours on the sun drenched shores of Ponza, absorbing every last word of this book with a smile on my face, while wondering if Ponza is even a real island - wow just did a search and it is, and its as stunning as it was described. 

I feel as though I know every nook and cranny of Ponza, this little Italian island, that Katie and Farrah are visiting. I'm in love with this place and will have to visit it myself one day, as it is such a different way of life to the regular hustle and bustle of city living. 

I think this may be my favourite of Catherine Mangan's novels although I did love the others too.  This really did transport me to Italy, and it is just what I want in a summer holiday sort of a book.  This would have been perfect to read by the pool / sea in the sun! 

Katie is a travel and food writer, but this is the first time she bas been asked to cover a destination that isn't in America so she is mega excited, and knows it is her big break  However what she didn't reckon on is that it would have the capacity to change her life forever. 

And I just loved seeing how Katie reacted to things not going so smoothly on her trip in addition to her growing a bit closer to talented Chef Nico (even if he does have the sort of restaurant that personally I'd never eat at!). The descriptions of the food in the book were just mouth-watering. 

And seeing Katie and the locals of Ponza attempt to speak to each other with very little foreign language knowledge is a lot of fun too. 

This was just a sun filled, utterly glorious summer read that I adored. 

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

Book Review - Annie in Paris by Carmen Reid

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Amazon UK

Title: Annie in Paris

Author: Carmen Reid

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 30th April 2024

Rating: 5 Stars

Personal shopper Annie Valentine is back! Older and bolder!

Fashion guru Annie is struggling to cope with her hectic life. With the demands of two older children, plus four-year-old twins, her marriage to Ed is in a romance-free rut and she’s clinging by a couture thread to her job as the nation’s favourite fashion fixer.

And where is Svetlana, her multi-millionaire friend, when Annie needs her? Busy with an expensive mid-life crisis, that's where!

When Ed gets the chance to teach in Paris, Annie thinks time apart could be the answer. Wrong!

In Paris, Ed transforms into a debonair silver fox, attracting the attentions of stylish siren Sylvie.

Annie can’t lose her man or the job she loves, so bundling her bags, her babies and a reluctant Svetlana onto the Eurostar, she sets off to the rescue. But can the City of Love deliver the ooh la la that her marriage, and her fashion series, so desperately needs?

Another brilliant laugh out loud emotional read, perfect for fans of Fiona Gibson, Tracy Bloom and Sophie Ranald!

There are absolutely no words to describe just how ecstatic I was to see this book announced, but also slightly apprehensive.  After all it has been more years than I can count, since the last new book in this series was released and although I know I love it, I was concerned I may not remember much. 

But those fears were allayed within moments of opening the book and cheering loudly that there was a full character list and small bit of info about each of them.  Which allowed my poor head all it needed to remember more than enough, and to feel right at home from the first few pages. 

And given the prologue opened with a classic Annie Valentine chaotic moment,  I knew I was going to love it and be totally happy reading this. 

It was so great to be back in Annie Valentine's world. although I was concerned that things didn't seem as hunky dory as normal with her and Ed.  It was fabulous catching up with Owen, who we have seen grow up over the series, and her four year old twins are amusing. 

Things aren't totally smooth in the Annie and Svetlana friendship either, but we get to have whole chapters from Svetlana, and I feel I know her a whole lot more just from this one book, than I have done previously. We are treated to a lot of her background, and its wonderful to read. 

Once Annie is in Paris, the book ramps up the comedy and fun, and besides learning a lot of Parisian fashion, and I was completely entranced by the story. I was loving every single second of it.. ok perhaps love is not quite the right word for one instance of Annie's rather iffy parenting, but even that felt very in keeping with her character! 

This was like greeting an old friend and picking up exactly where you have left off, even after a considerable amount of time has passed.  It is brilliant, I'm over the moon that this series is back and is having a resurgence in popularity too, and above all... please please please please please, can we have some more! 

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

Book Review - Falling For You by Debbie Johnson - #HolidayReading Cruise

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Amazon UK

Title: Falling For You

Author: Debbie Johnson

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Orion

Publication Date: 25th May 2023 

Rating: 5 Stars

Sometimes it takes life falling apart...

... to piece yourself back together!

Single mum Jenny's life is turned upside-down (quite literally) when her beloved cottage on the Norfolk coast falls off a cliff. And so, with the storm raging on, Jenny and her eighteen-year-old son Charlie are forced to take refuge in her neighbour, Luke's, cosy campervan.

It's a tight squeeze for the three of them - and Luke's adorable dachshund, Betty - but somehow they make it work. And when far-too-handsome Luke suggests a spontaneous road trip around England, it ignites a desire for adventure in Jenny she thought long extinguished!

And soon she begins to wonder whether losing everything might just have been the best thing that ever happened to her...

I must say that of all the various reasons a main character may start off a book essentially homeless and needing to start life again - that your house falling off the side of a cliff, is certainly one of the more original I've seen. 

And it means that Jenny and Charlies lives are turned upside down. 

I loved the way they responded to this, and when Jenny also is made redundant she starts considering a whole new way of life. 

Inspired by neighbour Luke who travels around the UK in a motorhome and kindly offers to take Jenny and Charlie with him. 

I loved their quirky journey up and down the UK, with places chosen at random and interesting routes and stops found. 

And its really a journey of self discovery for all of the characters, as they adjust, and I loved seeing it all unfold. 

Plus add in Betty their four legged friend, and we have fun and frolics.  Such an enjoyable book.  I loved it. 

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

Book Review - Don't Look Back by Jo Spain - #HolidayReading Cruise

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Amazon UK

Title: Don't Look Back

Author: Jo Spain

Format reviewed: Ebook 

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Quercus

Publication Date: 11th May 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

It was the perfect honeymoon . . . until she confessed to murder

For one week, everything in Luke Miller's life is perfect. Surprised with a belated honeymoon by his wife, Rose, he's had seven days with her in a Caribbean paradise.

But then Rose confesses that on the day they left, a violent man from her past tracked her down and broke into their home. He wasn't expecting her to fight back. In her terror, Rose killed him. Now there's a dead body in his apartment, and only one person Luke can think to turn to.

Mickey never expected to hear from Luke again, not after he disappeared without warning. Mickey can't deny a woman who needs help. Luke trusts her to make sure Rose doesn't have to keep running.

But it turns out, some lies are too big to run from.

Wow what a twisty and unpredictable book this is.

I didn't see any of it coming and was continually being shocked at the directions it was going in, in a good way. 

Utterly brilliant, I devoured this book, and couldn't get enough of it. 

Loved getting to know Mickey, Luka and Rose.  There are some sections that are hard to read, especially regarding Rose's previous relationship, but they are needed so that you could feel her emotions that much more vividly. 

Just another wonderful book from the twisted mind of Jo Spain! 

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

Book Review - The Guests by Nikki Smith - #HolidayReading Fuerteventura

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Amazon UK

Title: The Guests

Author: Nikki Smith

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Penguin

Publication Date: 23rd May 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

THE RESORT OF THEIR DREAMS.

A DESTINATION TO DIE FOR...

Welcome to paradise!

Or so the staff say when they greet the Hamiltons at the idyllic Asana Fushi resort in the Maldives.

And it starts off that way: champagne picnics on powder-white sand, snorkelling in the serene blue sea and moonlit walks under the stars.

But lies lurk beneath the luxury because each of the guests has a secret, and they're not the only ones.

How can a once-in-a-lifetime trip turn into the holiday from hell?

From the author of THE BEACH PARTY comes a novel of sun, sea and secrets for fans of ONE OF THE GIRLS and WHITE LOTUS.

Someone please remind me never to go on holiday with Nikki Smith, as she seems to have a knack of turning gorgeous holiday destinations into brilliantly dark and twisty stories! 

And for a book set on Maldives, well let's just say you don't expect everyone on this island to be hiding things in ways that interlink. 

Much less the sinister nature of some of these secrets, and as the story unfolds you can see just what lengths one family will go to, to protect either other, or themselves. 

Everything is so vividly described, I could see it all so clearly, and I couldn't get enough of this story. I was totally hooked. 

And it really is a paradise resort as a setting, and in other circumstances would be a hotel that I would love to visit. 

It's another hit novel from this talented author, that I have devoured every word of it, and still would like more. 

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

Book Review - The French Cookery School by Caroline James

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Amazon UK

Title: The French Cookery School

Author: Caroline James

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: 25th April 2024

Rating: 5 Stars

The recipe for a perfect summer…

Step 1: Mix together a group of mature students

Step 2: Add in a handsome host

Step 3: Season with a celebrity chef

Step 4: Bring to the boil at a luxurious cookery school in France!

Waltho Williams has no idea what he’s letting himself in for when he opens the doors to his beautiful French home, La Maison du Paradis. But with dwindling funds, a cookery school seems like the perfect business plan…

Divorcée caterer Caroline needs to be able stand on her own two feet. While warm-hearted Fran hopes to help her beloved husband fulfil his lifelong dream. And for food journalist Sally it’s a PR opportunity – until a certain celebrity chef gets under her skin…

But will the eclectic group be a recipe for success, or will the mismatched relationships sink like a souffle?

Whip out an apron, grab a wooden spoon and take a culinary trip to La Maison du Paradis…

The recipe for a fabulous Caroline James novel

Step 1: Have Caroline James write the novel, which she did in this case with total accomplishment, and had me feeling as though I really had been to a cookery school in France. 

Step 2: Have a fabulous group of characters attend the cookery school.. Well we certainly had those, a huge variety of those more advanced in age, including Caroline and Fran who are worlds apart. Caroline is our main character, and it took me a while to fully warm to her, whereas Fran, who Caroline seems to dislike instantly, was incredibly likeable.

Step 3: Ah handsome men, well there were certainly a few of those including Waltho the host of the course, plus the celebrity chef and his assistant.   I really enjoyed getting to know Waltho, and spent a fair bit of the story with my fingers crossed that he would end up with the ending he deserved.  And it was better than I would have imagined. 

Step 4: Fill a book with food, friendship, and trips into the local area in France.  I loved the excursions almost as much as I loved the food descriptions. And there was plenty of both of those! 

Step 5: Mix all of the above up, in a carefully considered way, in order to produce a truly entertaining story, that seemed to have emotions, drama and a whole lot of heart and love.  

Step 6: Pick this book up off the shelf and devour it, enjoying every last word, just like I did! It can't fail! 

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

Book Review - Truth Truth Lie by Claire McGowan - #HolidayReading Cruise

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Amazon UK

Title: Truth Truth Lie

Author: Claire McGowan

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Publication Date: 21st May 2024

Rating: 5 Stars

Everyone here has killed someone.

There is no way off this island.

You will all either kill or be killed here.

One of these statements is a lie. But which one?

Amira’s less than thrilled to be spending the weekend with her husband’s university friends. Two of them are hosting a joint fortieth on a private Scottish island, with vintage champagne, expensive gifts, and soaks in the wood-fired hot tub. Despite the luxury, Amira knows she’s going to feel left out, not to mention freezing cold and cut off.

When they decide to play ‘two truths and a lie’, anonymously posting three statements about themselves into a box, years of resentment start bubbling to the surface. And then an extra slip of paper emerges, scrawled with three chilling threats. Who wrote it? And are two of the statements really true—have they all been responsible for someone’s death?

With no phone reception and no way off the island, the group are trapped here until the end of the weekend. And as tension rises and secrets are spilled, they can’t shake the feeling that they’re not the only ones here. Is someone watching them? Someone who wants them dead? Or is it one of them who has murder in mind?

I was hooked on this story, as we try to work out just what is going on when a game of two truths and a lie gives a rather unsettling result. 

From there we get to see a group implode on itself, and no one is safe. 

This is a group of friends on a remote Scottish Island that is very hard to get to. We get chapters from various characters' points of view, and it really does make for compelling reading. 

I really wasn't sure who was behind everything, and loved discovering things at the same time as everyone in the book.  It's an addictive book that  I couldn't get enough of. 

Slightly claustrophobic, it feels like it is kill or be killed, but who can you trust to keep you safe. And just what are you capable of when pushed to extremes. 

This was certainly a weekend away to remember for all of the wrong reasons.  Which made it into a fabulous story for the reader. 

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

Book Review - The Teacher's Secret by Lauren North - #HolidayReading Cruise

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Amazon UK

Title: The Teacher's Secret

Author: Lauren North

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: 23rd February 2024

Rating: 4 Stars

On an ordinary Friday afternoon, popular teacher Mrs Walker and her eight-year-old son leave the school playground. But they never make it home…

Being called in as a substitute teacher to replace a missing teacher – and mother – is the hardest job I’ve ever done. Cate Walker should still be here, in the role she loves. Her son Archie should be sitting in class with his friends. But instead they've disappeared and nobody has heard from them since…

At drop-off and pick-up, the other parents are hunched together anxiously. I can see the confusion in their children’s faces. The whole village is full of whispered rumours: that Archie and Cate will never be found, that someone else will soon be next… and that Cate's charismatic husband, Oliver – our headteacher – is involved.

After the chilling way Oliver looked at me on my first morning, the thought makes my blood turn to ice. I'm determined to uncover what’s really happened to Cate and Archie, especially after I find photos in Cate’s classroom cupboard that change everything…

Then an anonymous note turns up threatening me. My home is broken into while I sleep. I know the longer I stay at this school, the more danger I’m in.

But whoever’s trying to scare me doesn’t know who I am – or why I’m really here.

Or just how far I’ll go to expose the truth…

An absolutely gripping psychological thriller, where no one is who they seem, that will get your heart pounding! Perfect for fans of addictive page-turners like The Housemaid, The Family Across the Street and The Family Upstairs.

Told from various viewpoints, one thing is clear very early on, is that there are a lot of guilty conscious amongst the characters, to do with the disappearance of Cate and Archie. 

But just how can so many people potentially be responsible, and just what really did happen. 

And as I was drawn into these characters lives, I was constantly trying to figure out just what would end up being relevant, while also being very curious as to just what each person was hiding. 

I did have some ideas but I was never completely convinced and the outcome completely took me by surprise, which is what I want from this genre of book. 

Definitely another great psych thriller from Lauren North. 

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

Book Review - The Dance Deception by Becky Ward - #HolidayReading Cruise

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Amazon UK

Title: The Dance Deception

Author: Becky Ward

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 3rd August 2023

Rating: 4 Stars

There’s about to be fire on – and off – the dance floor…

Kate Wareing is astonished when she secures a place in a televised dance competition. Especially as it means she’ll be paired with a professional dancer to compete for a life-changing cash prize.

When she’s matched with gorgeous French dancer Merle it quickly becomes clear that he’s just as keen to work on their chemistry as their routine. But when the competition is rocked by a scandal, Kate’s forced to switch to a new partner, Aleksis, who is just as devastatingly attractive as Merle – but seems to hate her.

With the odds stacked against them, Kate and Aleksis embark on a showmance to try and win over the public. But what happens when Kate’s feelings for her fake boyfriend become all too real? And how far will Merle go to sabotage her chances – both in the competition and in love?

Tropes:

Enemies-to-lovers

Fake Dating

Spicy romance

Funny, feel-good and oh-so-steamy, this is the perfect read for the Strictly-obsessed and anyone who loved The Spanish Love Deception and The Love Hypothesis

Stricly Come Dancing meets sexual chemistry galore, but with mere mortals instead of celebrities. 

That's the premise of the new reality talent show that Kate has been co-erced into signing up for. 

Although her first sessions with hot dancer Merle, certainly cheer her up. 

Until some pictures are leaked and she discovered what a twat Merle really is. 

Made to swap partners this turns into a fake dating story and one that I loved. 

I adored getting to know her new dance professional and seeing how their relationship kept on changing 

And Kate's family and friends are fabulous too.

I loved the very many steamy sex scenes involving Kate, and frankly at times wish I could have swapped places with her! 

This is the first book I have read by Becky Ward and it won't be my last. i thoroughly enjoyed this story. 

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

Book Review - Offtrack by Esha Patel

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Amazon UK

Title: Offtrack

Author: Esha Patel

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 9th May 2024

Rating: 4 Stars

Formula One meets The Hating Game in this rivals-to-lovers romance between a legacy driver and F1’s first woman driver

Diana Zahrani is Formula One’s first female racing driver this century. All the other drivers are told to race carefully around her, and leave her to her real job: being a pretty face and good advertising for a hypermasculine sport. But Diana’s not worked this hard her whole life just to be a mascot.

World Championship favourite Miguel de la Fuente is not taking any rookie seriously, let alone a woman. With his first championship win looming, all he has to do is stay focused – and make sure Diana stays out of his way.

But motorsports is a small world, and as Diana and Miguel race their way through the season, they’re forced to face each other again and again. When sparks fly, Miguel and Diana must decide for the sake of their teams where their priorities lie: on track, with the championship, or offtrack, with each other…

Esha Patel previously published a book with these characters under this title – this is a completely rewritten title

I'm a massive F1 fan, and I totally felt absorbed into the fast paced world of Formula 1 within the pages of this book. 

It is clear that the nitty gritty of the racing has been well researched and I was cheering on our drivers in each race.  But being a fan of the sport what slightly annoyed me was the inclusion of an Indian Grand Prix, there hasn't been one since 2013 in the country, and there certainly wasn't one in 2022, let alone on the sort of circuit that was being described, i've not even heard rumours of.  And that took me out of the book and my enjoyment of the story while I tried to confirm my suspicions that this didn't exist. 

After all if you are going to name a 2022 F1 race schedule, swapping out the real life Bahrain Grand Prix, for a fictional Indian one doesn't really make sense.  The rest of the races I believe where there, but not necessarily in the right order. Jarred me slightly that there was a GP in Europe as only the second race of the season, they never move to Europe that soon, not even in the first proper season more or less fully back after the pandemic. 

But honestly those are my only negatives and if you aren't a F1 fan those are things you would never pick up on. 

What I did love is Diana, who manages to get an F1 seat for the season.  Being an Arabic woman in a male dominated field, given she had grown up in Saudi Arabia where women weren't even able to drive until fairly recently, makes her an inspirational character and one that I wish existed in real life. 

Some of what she faces and what she is trying to do with the sport, reminds me of things I've heard Lewis Hamilton say, while he tries to get more racial inclusion in the sport.  But it's doubly hard as she is female and half the field were at least initially really horrible towards her. 

Everything she has to put up with in the team and the sport felt incredibly realistic and entirely believable. 

Then there is Miguel, out male lead, part of a F1 legacy family, it's in his blood. But he is passionate about the sport, and there is an instant connection between him and Diana. But he has a sort of arranged marriage coming up, and his priorities have changed a bit this season, making him grow up a bit.  

I absolutely loved Miguel's sister Paula who who is a strong woman, and a race engineer, the one on the radio to him all race . I loved her in this role and it's another area that is women 

There are occasional bits of exploring some of the destinations they are racing in which spoke to my armchair travel part of the brain, while the sport and racing thrilled me. 

I just really hope one day there will be someone like Diana in F1, as it's what the sport needs. 

This was an enjoyable book, and I'm always eager to read more stories set in the world of F1 

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

Book Review - The Secrets of the Little Greek Taverna by Erin Palmisano

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Amazon UK

Title: The Secrets of the Little Greek Taverna

Author: Erin Palmisano

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Headline Accent

Publication Date: 27th February 2024

Rating: 5 Stars

In a village on Naxos lies a gorgeous guest house and taverna that never opened. Cressida's husband died suddenly - the taverna was their dream - but she's been too lost in grief to keep that dream alive.

Marjory 'Jory' St James always feels more at home on the move. As if summoned by the island, she arrives on Naxos in the middle of the night and quite unexpectedly becomes Cressida's very first guest.

Jory quickly discovers that this trip will be more than just a sightseeing adventure. All the women she meets in the town are more than what they seem. But when a hotel group offers to buy the taverna, it's going to take all of Jory and Cressida's drive and expertise to keep that from happening. With a generous dash of romance, deliciously tempting food, and a growing friendship, can these two women find a way to finally open the little Greek taverna?

What a really special little book this is, what a stunning story all about the magic of female friendship, and finding your way in life. 

And mixed in what that there is a lot of truly delicious sounding food and some simply amazing characters, each of which has their own special gift. 

With a stunning setting of Naxos, the little village of Potamia is a brilliant place for the stories of all of these wonderful women to merge and intertwine. 

We have Cressida who bakes feelings into her food, Mago who is able to see just how fabrics go together, there is Jory who comes to Naxos and has the ability to draw people together and make people feel at home.  It's is these three specifically that come together to start a new chapter in all of their lives.

There really is a touch of magical realism in this, mixed with a rather enjoyable writing style which really lifts this story to one that touched my heart and had me devouring reading it. 

A really enjoyable debut novel and I'm already interested in seeing what this author writes next. 

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