Book Review - Finding Love at Mermaid Terrace by Kate Forster - #HolidayReading Cruise

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: Finding Love at Mermaid Terrace

Author: Kate Forster

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Aria

Publication Date: 4 February 2021

Rating: 5 Stars

Love comes when you least expect it...

Tressa Buckland likes her quiet life in Port Lowdy, with its cobbled streets and colourful terraced houses overlooking the sea. Her job at the local paper allows her to pursue her art in her free time, with no one but her tabby cat Ginger Pickles to mind her in Mermaid Terrace. But then the owner of the paper is called away on an emergency, and it's up to Tressa to run the paper for six months. Her first task: find a new part-time journalist.

Dan Byrne is the angriest man in Ireland – or so the readers of his very successful column, 'Dan takes on the world', think. But after a story goes south and he loses his job in Dublin, Dan has no choice but to start afresh. When an opportunity comes up in sleepy Cornwall, Dan and his Golden Retriever Ritchie set off for a new adventure.

For Tressa, Dan's arrival to Port Lowdy changes everything. Tressa tries not to look too deeply at her own life, but Dan sees a story to uncover in absolutely everyone – even her. The two of them couldn't be more different... yet, if they can find a way to work together, they may just breathe new life and joy into this sleepy seaside village.

Finding Love at Mermaid Terrace is a heartwarming new village romance about the power of love and kindness, from the bestselling author of Starting Over at Acorn Cottage.

What people are saying about Kate Forster:

Thoroughly enjoyable story, as I have come to expect from Kate Forster. 

I loved my time spent in Port Lowdy, and seeing how Tressa is integral to the community there. 

She is much loved and not aware of her own talents. She has a complicated dynamic with her family which was pleased to see was explored. 

Meanwhile she hires The Angriest Man in Ireland to be a reporter on the local paper, while Caro is being treated in hospital for the Big C. And let's say sparks fly!

Nothing is simple between the pair of them, but I loved getting to know Dan. 

No only Dan but we also get a fair amount of Penny's story and Remi's too, so get a real feel for the characters in this charming Cornish village.

Was a very pleasurable story to read. 

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

Book Review - The Spa Break by Caroline James

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: The Spa Break

Author: Caroline James

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: 15th April 2022

Rating: 5 Stars

A weekend at the spa will leave four old friends with a whole lot more than they’d bargained for…

The glossy brochure promised a serene experience of total tranquillity and rejuvenation, but what best friends Bridgette, Emily, Serena and Marjory get is a weekend that upends their lives!

There for a girls’ weekend to celebrate Bridgette’s impending seventieth birthday, the spa soon has these spicy sexagenarians realising that there are unexpected benefits to age and experience, and that over the hill certainly doesn’t mean out of the game…in any respect…

What starts off as what seems like a regular weekend Spa Break between friends, and I do initially wonder how on earth this weekend will have enough going on to turn into a full book - as it was such a gentle introduction - turns into the most memorable and life changing of experiences for all four of our heroines. 

I couldn't get enough of Bridgette, Emily, Serena and Marjory who all have epiphanies of their own during the course of the book, while staying at Sparadise. 

There are so many memorable and amusing moments that I wouldn't want to spoil for you. Suffice to say that these sexagenarians confound all stereotypes about their age and I only hope I am like them when I'm older. 

Between new ways of life, finally standing up to sponging waste of space relatives, or controlling ones, or discovering at this time of life that you do in fact have a sex drive, or just want to show to the world that you are still alive and kicking in a memorable way, we have all of this and more. 

At times elements of Sparadise reminded me of Caroline James previous books, specifically Boomerville and I kept thinking Hattie and Jo would appear. But instead we have a whole brand new cast of equally fantastic characters that Caroline James is so talented at creating. 

This was amusing, had me smiling, had me inspired and generally had me loving every page, to the extent I read the second half of the book in one sitting, completely absorbed and oblivious to the mountain of work I was probably meant to be doing! 

Utterly fabulous from Caroline James, not that I would ever expect anything less. 

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

Book Review - The Wedding Murders by Sarah Linley - #HolidayReading Cruise

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: The Wedding Murders

Author: Sarah Linley

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: 11th February 2022

Rating: 4 Stars

Perfect for escapist reading – you won’t be able to put it down!

You are invited to the wedding of the season…

It’s the stuff of fairytales. A celebrity wedding in a grand manor house in the beautiful English countryside.

But then one guest goes missing.

And another almost dies.

Someone at this wedding will do anything to stop their dark secrets from being exposed.

You might not live to tell the tale…

I loved the sections of the book set in the past, looking at the band's rise to fame and subsequent self destruction. I enjoyed the extracts from Simon's memoir too. 

I also really liked being able to empathise with Libby and her feelings of not really fitting in at this wedding. 

What I wasn't as interested by was by the mystery in play here, whether or not someone really was murdered as a result of a gunshot being heard in a hotel that is used for hunting occasionally.  And whether or not someone was in fact murdering wedding guests.

I was intrigued by the big secret the band members desperately wanted to keep secret, and it shocked me for the reveal. Equally enjoyed getting to know the band members both in the present and past. 

It is an enjoyable novel, that I'm glad I had the opportunity to read. 

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

Book Review - The Book Share by Phaedra Patrick

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: The Book Share

Author: Phaedra Patrick

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HQ

Publication Date: 29th March 2022

Rating: 5 Stars

It’s never too late to start a new chapter…

The utterly charming and feel-good new novel from the bestselling author of The Secrets of Sunshine and The Library of Lost and Found.

Liv Green loves losing herself in a good book. But her everyday reality is less romantic, cleaning houses for people who barely give her the time of day. So when she lands a job housekeeping for her personal hero and mega-bestselling author Essie Starling, she can't believe her luck.

When Essie dies unexpectedly, Liv is left with a life-changing last wish: to complete Essie’s final novel. To do so, change-averse Liv will have to step away from the fictitious worlds in her head, and into Essie’s shoes. As she begins to write, she uncovers a surprising connection between the two women – and a secret that will change Liv’s life forever…

Brimming with joy and packed with a sparkling cast of characters, The Book Share is a moving reminder that it’s never too late to re-write your own story – perfect for fans of All the Lonely People and The Authenticity Project.

You never are quite sure what you are going to get with a Phaedra Patrick novel, other than they will take you on some sort of a journey.  

And with The Book Share it really is a journey of self discovery for Liv, as she attempts to keep Essie's most recent biggest secret, while also learning more about her, and also discovering various other truths about Essie's life. 

Over the course of six months, we see great character development for Liv, who really comes into her own as more than just a mother and wife.  She really blossoms under the challenge she is undertaking and it gave me great joy to see. 

And Essie, discovering all about her life was fascinating too, as well as seeing a bit more of behind the scenes of writing a book. 

It was a joy to read this, I absolutely loved every second of it, especially once it got going and the intrigue around just whether Liv would succeed or not.  And it definitely had me smiling by the end. 

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

Book Review - The Murder List by Jackie Kabler

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: The Murder List

Author: Jackie Kabler

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: 31st May 2022

Rating: 5 Stars

When Mary receives a blank diary as a present, she thinks nothing of it. Until she opens the diary, and sees it’s not blank after all…

1st January MURDER LISA, OXFORD

1st February MURDER JANE, BIRMINGHAM

1st March MURDER DAVID, CARDIFF

1st April MURDER MARY, CHELTENHAM

Is this some kind of sick joke? But…it’s the end of January now. And a woman named Lisa was murdered in Oxford on 1st January.

Does that mean there really is a killer out there, planning to commit a new murder on the first of each month? And is the Mary due to be killed on 1st April her?

The clock is ticking for Mary to uncover the truth, before she becomes the next victim on the killer’s list…

Woah! OMG! Wow! 

What a book! 

So incredibly clever, and I had strong gut feelings as to who was behind everything and was completely dumfounded by the finale as a result. 

There is so much more to many of the characters than meets the eyes. There are many red herrings, and I'm never really sure how things would turn out. 

For everything is pointing to the fact that on 1st April, Mary will die, and she is our main character, and main view point, and you get to know her well as she tries along with the police to see if they can track down the diary killer before it gets to her turn. 

It is such a fabulous concept and so great to see how the police could react if they are given a partial threat to a common first name, city and date but nothing else to go on whether they will take it seriously, how they can even remotely comprehend keeping people in their town safe etc..

I loved the snippets from the four police forces working together to try identify and catch this potentially sick and twisted person. 

I thought the previous Jackie Kabler psychological thrillers were fantastic, and this one ramps up the writing, the tension, the generally addictiveness.  I couldn't get enough of it, and it is utterly amazing. 

Had me completely hooked and it even seemed to help combat my long covid exhaustion as I was feeling really alert from reading this fabulous story. 

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

Book Review - Crossing The Line by M A Comley

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: Crossing The Line

Author: M A Comley

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Jeamel Publishing Limited

Publication Date: 20th June 2022

Rating: 5 Stars

One terrifying ordeal too many…

A spate of burglaries cripples the city, putting the community and the police on high alert.

Despite dealing with a personal tragedy, DI Sara Ramsey is determined to end the perpetrator’s terrorising agenda, but it's going to prove an impossible task as the criminal is far worse than any she's ever encountered before.

Can she prevent the loss of yet more lives, and if so, at what cost to her personal life and her career?

Can I cop out of reviewing another fabulous book in this series, and just ask you to refer to my review of the previous 15 books - as all the superlatives I have used there, would be still relevant for this one! 

For once again M A Comley has produced a head scratching, intriguing and simply superb story in this completely fabulous series.

As much as I loved this book I am finding it really hard to come up with anything remotely original to say other than I loved it, and I just can't get enough of this series! 

I am completely obsesses with this series, and this author's books and can't get enough of DI Sara Ramsay and her team.  She has a huge place in my heart, and I always enjoy the glimpses we get into the detectives private lives. 

What a despicable killer we have this time, he is preying on the vulnerable, and given he seemed to be targeting bungalows, and I live alone in one of those, will admit I was feeling a bit nervy while reading this! 

I am so glad I'm not working for the police as I wouldn't have had a clue where to start trying to solve this one, let alone 

But yeah this book is fabulous, if you haven't read anything from this author before then you are missing out, and if you have, you know her quality, and you don't want to miss this latest book! 

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

Book Review - The Cornish Cream Tea Holiday by Cressida McLaughlin - Blog Tour

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: The Cornish Cream Tea Holiday

Author: Cressida McLaughlin

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication Date: 23rd June 2022

Rating: 5 Stars

It’s going to be an unforgettable Cornish summer…

Thea Rushwood was looking forward to exploring the beautiful Cornish tourist spot of Port Karadow, but when her friend drops out at the last minute, she is forced to go solo. Arriving at her cosy holiday cottage to discover a building site next door, Thea and the annoyingly attractive, but grumpy builder, Ben, don’t get off to the best start.

Thea starts to wonder if her perfect escape wasn’t meant to be. That’s before she realizes there is more to Ben – and to the community – than she first thought. As a magical Cornish summer stretches out in front of her, Thea discovers this is one holiday that she never wants to end…

It is always good to be back in Cressida McLaughlin's Cornwall and this was no exception.  It's a perfect summer read, and I read the last half of it in one sitting in a few hours in my garden on a nice early evening, and it calmed me down from being furious about stuff earlier in the day. 

So definitely a relaxing read too, and it really summed up summers days in Cornwall so well. 

Set in Port Karadow so close by to the more familiar Porthgolow, it is a book filled with cameos of familiar characters from the Cream Tea Bus books, and being able to catch up with Finn and Meredith from the fifth book was a joy too. 

It is though a completely standalone story, so please don't worry if you haven't read the previous five amazing books in this series. 

So we have Thea who has come away on holiday, but also has her mind on her future and making her dreams come true. She is staying next door to builder Ben, who is renovating his own home and clearly running from something himself. 

They are fabulous at being able to distract each other and it soon feels as though Thea is really getting to grips with her holiday, and with Ben helping her, I loved seeing Cornwall through her eyes. 

And with new friends, there is a beach BBQ competition to tantalise the taste buds, as well as a sandcastle competition, not to mention typical touristy activities.  When I think of Thea's first day on holiday, to how she develops over the course of her stay, I can't help but feel proud of her! 

This was a joy to read, I absolutely love this author and this was another top not bit of writing from her.  I loved every second of this story, and didn't want it to end.  I felt as though I was in Cornwall with the characters, and loved the immersion I had in this fabulous story. 

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

Please do follow along with the rest of this blog tour. 

Book Review - Daisy's French Farmhouse by Lorraine Wilson

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: Daisy's French Farmhouse

Author: Lorraine Wilson

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: 26th May 2022

Rating: 4 Stars

Escape to heaven…

Daisy has never been lucky in love, and when her love life implodes—again—she flees to France. A summer in the sun helping out at her friend Poppy’s guesthouse is the perfect way to put unsuitable men behind her!

When Daisy finds herself dog sitting for two loveable rescues they quickly wind their way into Daisy’s heart. The trouble is so does their owner – enigmatic widower and bookseller Anton! But she didn’t come to France fall for another unattainable man…

Can they honour the past and take a chance on the future?

How wonderful to be back with Poppy and JoJo and their herd of adorable dogs in the French countryside. 

And we have a brand new main character to get to know and love, which is exactly what happens as I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Daisy. 

Especially as she has decided to set up as a dog sitter and dog walker, and as a result we meet some other equally adorable dogs, and my heart melted at the antics of all of our canine friends in this book. 

Actually I think at times the dogs had more vibrancy and personality than the humans, which isn't necessarily a bad thing and the humans are good too! 

Once again I'm impressed at how well Lorraine Wilson writes sex scenes, they are fantastic and along with her canines always are stand out parts of her books . 

This is such an light and enjoyable book, and had me smiling throughout.  I had a great time reading this. 

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

Book Review - Sweet Love and Country Roads by Camilla Isley

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: Sweet Love and Country Roads

Author: Camilla Isley

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Pink Bloom Press

Publication Date: 31st May 2022

Rating: 5 Stars

Falling for the wrong cowboy never felt so good . . .

Samantha Baker is a high-flying movie producer living in New York City. She loves her shoes, drinking cosmopolitans, and wouldn’t trade the comforts of city life for anything in the world. But when her job is put on the line, Samantha has no other choice than to move to the middle of nowhere to straighten out the filming of her latest romantic comedy blockbuster.

Her new country home has no Starbucks, no Pilates, and the one pub in town has never heard of appletinis—only serves beer and whiskey neat. On the plus side, the views are scenic. And not just for the aerial shots, as the local eye-candy provides a welcome distraction.

At least until Samantha discovers a native cowboy, Travis Hunt, is the source of all her troubles...

And the battle begins.

Each has something the other wants, but as Samantha and Travis go head to head, they might discover the endgame has changed. When hate turns to heat, all becomes fair in love and war for these two sworn enemies who’ve been playing a game of hearts.

But will a roll in the hay be enough to make Samantha decide there’s no sex in the city and convert to country living?

I do love a smoking hot cowboy! 

I also love small town USA romances! 

And I really enjoy enemies to loves tropes! 

Oh and I love anything featuring film making too! 

Not to mention an unlikely amusing and adorable animal that I want for myself!

Oh and I really really love Camilla Isley books! 

So when all of these elements are combined, can you guess how I feel about this book?

If you said that I loved it then you would be correct! It's fabulous, just my sort of read. It's pure romantic escapism with fabulous chemistry, great banter, a whole cast of entertaining characters, 

It's the perfect summer read, great for a garden or a beach, where you just want to be entertained.  And I loved the cameos from characters in other books in this series.  But it can 100% be read as a standalone, as we have never met Samantha and Travis before. 

And the sheriff in town caught my eye too. And seeing Samantha trying to adjust to temporary life in Indiana, when she is used to the hustle and bustle of New York. 

It's just another simply fantastic Camilla Isley novel, that I had a ball reading. 

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

Book Review - The Italian Job by Kathryn Freeman

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: The Italian Job

Author: Kathryn Freeman

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: 6th May 2022

Rating: 5 Stars

Dream job. Dream house. Fake fiancé.

A year in a gorgeous Italian castle…

When Anna Roberts’ life implodes, an online search leads her to an ad for the ultimate dream job – management of a gorgeous castle on the shores of Lake Como, accommodation included. The only catch? Anna can’t do it alone…

…With the last man on earth she’d choose!

The castle owners will only accept a couple as caretakers, which means Anna needs a man on her arm at the interview. Enter her neighbour, Jake Tucker. Though Anna and Jake have never seen eye-to-eye, Jake’s had a rough few years and an escape to Italy sounds ideal. Yet, when they get the job and jet off, Anna and Jake face an unexpected challenge. Pretending to be a couple is difficult … but pretending the tension simmering between them doesn’t exist is quickly proving impossible!

I think I may need to jump into Lake Como to cool off, after reading this! 

For the sexual chemistry between Anna and Jake is beyond sizzling - it is coming out of my kindle so clearly, and making me hot - even if they are trying to ignore it most of the time 

After all they did agree to be in a fake relationship in order to secure a job in a castle on Lake Como for a year, as both need a break from their regular lives. 

I do love a fake romance, I also love an enemies to well at least friends, I'll let you discover if it's anything more tropes, and this has those plot points in spade.  But it also has a man who has had a troubled past trying to get his life back on track, and Anna who has been messed about a few times in her life, leading her to have very little self confidence. 

This is just pure fun, I was completely and utterly absorbed by it, could picture the castle so clearly and loved every bit of dialogue between Anna and Jake. 

And that's before I mention the couple of men I love to hate in the story, and all manner of other characters that I enjoyed getting to know. 

It's just another fabulous book from one of my favourite authors, I loved it so much. 

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