Book Review - Escape to Darling Cove by Holly Hepburn - Blog Tour

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Amazon UK

Title: Escape to Darling Cove

Author: Holly Hepburn

Format reviewed: Paperback

Source: Publisher supplied copy

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: 5th January 2023

Rating: 4 Stars

The brand new series from Holly Hepburn, perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley and Katie Fforde. Originally published as novellas, this paperback contains all fours parts of the story from irresistible beginning to heart-warming conclusion. 

Eve has always lived on Ennisfarne, an idyllic island just off the coast of Northumberland and only accessible when tides are low. There she runs a bar overlooking Darling Cove, a heavenly horseshoe-shaped beach named after her seafaring ancestors, whose links to the Farne Islands stretch back centuries.

Logan is a famous photographer desperate to evade the limelight after a difficult break-up. Renting a cottage from Eve, he chooses Ennisfarne in the hope of anonymity but is immediately spellbound by its natural beauty.

The pair don’t get off to the best start, butting heads over Eve’s adorable but boisterous Chocolate Labrador. But when Logan's true identity is revealed, Eve realises her new tenant isn’t quite the man she thought he was. Is it too late to start again or will Logan’s island escape be over almost before it’s begun?

The brand new novel from Holly Hepburn, author of Coming Home to Brightwater Bay, will whisk you away to a sublime seaside retreat you’ll never want to leave.

Ennisfarne is an absolutely gorgeous setting for this latest lovely novel from Holly Hepburn. 

It's a quiet tidal island in Northumberland, and as such the whole pace of the book is rather on the slower side.  But with it you get to really connect with not just the two main characters, but a large number of the people on the island. 

By the end if felt as though I was leaving a community of good friends behind. Easily my favourite characters were Huxley the dog who is a real character and is the one that provides a memorable first meeting between Logan and Eve.  And also Freda who runs the village shop and is wonderful at upselling and managing to get all the gossip, while also protecting Logan when his location becomes known. 

The initial meetings between Logan and Eve set up a rocky relationship between them, as he accidentally comes across as a chauvinist.   However it adds to the colour of the book, and I did enjoy seeing how their "relationship" would progress, and whether they would ever get to together. 

This is a gorgeously gentle story that I really enjoyed.  

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

Book Review - Time to Kill by M. A. Comley

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Amazon UK

Title: Time to Kill

Author: M. A. Comley

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Jeamel Publishing Limited

Publication Date: 15th September 2022

Rating: 5 Stars

A killer with a horrific agenda is at large …

DI Sara Ramsey is called to a crime scene where a man’s body has been nailed to a fence. She also discovers the killer hasn’t bothered disguising the victim’s identity. When Sara turns up to break the news of the victim’s death to his girlfriend, all is not how it should be.

The case becomes even more intriguing as the body count rises and the motive for the murders remains a complete mystery.

Will time run out for Sara and her team, when the killer’s agenda is turned on its head and his motive becomes clear as he goes full throttle into his endgame?

Once again M. A. Comley has proven what a sick and twisted mind she really has, for the torturous methods of death in this book were stomach churningly horrific.  I did slightly regret having read especially the prologue while eating dinner. 

Oh killer is particularly villainous in this story and we had plenty of chapters from their point of view, including a name for the killer very early on indeed, but just because us as readers know who did it, we still had no idea how they would be caught if at all, or just how DI Sara Ramsey and her team were going to deal with this new case. 

I was completely hooked from page one, it was addictive and another fantastic addition to this series  I was willing Sara on, hoping she would somehow manage to solve this one, when once again there is a killer who seems to know how to cover their own tracks. 

I challenge you to think of a superlative that hasn't already been used to describe this authors writing, and if you do figure any out, please let me know, as I really need to learn some new ways to describe an utterly fabulous, incredibly talented author and series. 

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

Book Review - Dastardly Deeds at St Bride's by Debbie Young

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Title: Dastardly Deeds at St Bride's

Author: Debbie Young

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 15th September 2022

Rating: 5 Stars

For anyone who loved St Trinian’s – old or new – or read Malory Towers as a kid. St Brides is the perfect read for you.

When Gemma Lamb takes a job at a quirky English girls’ boarding school, she believes she’s found the perfect escape route from her controlling boyfriend – until she discovers the rest of the staff are hiding sinister secrets:

Hairnet, the eccentric headmistress who doesn't hold with academic qualifications

Oriana Bliss, Head of Maths and master of disguise

Joscelyn Spryke, the suspiciously rugged Head of PE

Geography teacher Mavis Brook, surreptitiously selling off the library books

creepy night watchman Max Security, with his network of hidden tunnels

Even McPhee, the school cat, is leading a double life.

Tucked away in the school’s beautiful private estate in the Cotswolds, can Gemma stay safe and build a new independent future, or will past secrets catch up with her and the rest of the staff?

With a little help from her new friends, including some wise pupils, she's going to give it her best shot...

Previously published by Debbie Young as Secrets at St Bride's.

As a child, my favourite books to read were school stories and I must have re-read Malory Towers and The Twins at St Clares multiple times. So spotting this series from Debbie Young, instantly appealed to me, and I'm delighted to say this first book Dastardly Deeds at St. Brides lived up to my expectations. 

... Well with one tiny caveat, it's being described as a cozy mystery by the publisher, and I am certainly not denying it's cozy, its a very warm and cozy story (give or take the heating in the school), but it didn't feel like any cozy mystery that I have ever read. 

It starts with a startling prologue that does it's job and pulls me into the book instantly, but then takes a long time for us to get anywhere near that within the story.  But honestly I was having such a great time reading about everything at St. Brides, and its staff of quirky characters, all of which do seem to be hiding secrets, that although the genre baffled me, it certainly didn't affect my enjoyment of the book. 

I'm literally only mentioning it, so that if you are expecting a big crime early in the story and some bumbling detectives as is often the case when you think cozy mystery, then you will be surprised by what you actually get. 

For this is fabulous, it was incredibly easy to read, in fact I think I read it at the same pace I used to read school stories as a child - even though the focus is on the teachers, more than the girls at this school.  But even then I enjoyed the glimpses we got of some of the pupils. 

St Brides is a boarding school, full of rich children and staff that are using it as a way to reset their own lives, and they all have very distinctive personalities.

Gemma Lamb is a new English teacher at the school, and I loved small things like being told about the pupil's alternative prospectus which includes a key to their swearing.  I loved seeing older words used as replacements for words that would definitely be bleeped pre-watershed on TV! 

 She has come out of tricky relationship and is hoping that St Brides will be a safe place for her to re-asses her life and to finally use her teaching qualification.  I enjoyed seeing her grow in confidence as the days pass, and she starts to get the hang of life in a boarding school.

This is an all girls school, with that philosophy taken to extremes of only having all female staff, which leads to some rather interesting personelle decisions. 

I adored this book and I already can't wait to get my hands on the second one in this series.  I enjoyed the author's writing style and have a great picture in my mind of the school, and loved learning about it's founder too.  And I look forward to seeing more of all the teachers too.  

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

Book Review - Never Gonna Happen by Heidi Stephens - #HolidayReading Summer 2022

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Amazon UK

Title: Never Gonna Happen

Author: Heidi Stephens

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Headline Accent

Publication Date: 26th May 2022

Rating: 5 Stars

EMILY HAS SWORN OFF LOVE.

BUT MAYBE IT'S TIME TO GET BACK IN THE SADDLE . . . ?

__________________________

Emily Wilkinson has lost everything. Literally. In a hair-straightener fire. Oh, and her boyfriend (and boss) has announced he's going back to his wife. So, she needs a new job, a new plan, and somewhere to live that isn't her childhood bedroom.

Charles Hunter is looking for a live-in PA to help run Bowford Manor and Emily thinks she's the perfect fit. Well, she's spent ten years propping up demanding men, so she can definitely handle some tricky characters - like Charles's eldest son and heir, who's got plans for the estate that might raise a few eyebrows.

No one's mentioned Jamie though. The stable hand - and youngest Hunter. Dashing, of course, but totally unsuitable. And Emily's not about to make that mistake again.

Definitely not. No, really.

A hugely uplifting and totally irresistible romantic comedy that will make you snort with laughter. If you love Sophie Kinsella, Mhairi McFarlane and Sophie Ranald, you don't want to miss this unforgettable page-turner.

Light hearted escapism that had me completely invested in the characters, to the extent they keep appearing in my head while I'm reading my next book!

Emily goes to work for Mr Hunter who she gets on with, and comes across his sons.  One of which is a rude obnoxious twat, and the other who is down to earth, horse mad and utterly perfect for Emily. 

Adam makes me want to throw something every time he appears on page, whereas Jamie mad me want to jump between the pages of the book to become Emily, 

I really enjoyed all aspects of this, especially seeing how Emily and her family to a lesser extent, adjust to the world Emily finds herself in, where helicopters are mentioned as a form of transport, far more often you would imagine. 

I loved how despite their different upbringings, they had a lot of common ground and I was rooting for them. 

I also enjoyed meeting the others that worked for Mr Hunter, and in the case of Anna, trying to discover why she was acting the way she did. 

This is my first book by this author and i will definitely keep my eyes open more. I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

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

Book Review - Dreams Come True at Glendale Hall by Victoria Walters

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Amazon UK

Title: Dreams Come True at Glendale Hall

Author: Victoria Walters

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Publisher supplied copy

Publisher: Hera Books

Publication Date: 22nd September 2022 

Rating: 5 Stars

Lorna is following her dreams. But can she follow her heart?

Lorna Ferguson has dreamt of opening her own bed and breakfast in the village of Glendale for as long as she’d pictured falling in love. While her love life remains frankly hopeless, Lorna is determined to secure Dove House – the home she imagined living in as a child – to start this new venture with her family.

Along with brother Adam, Lorna starts restoring the house to its Art Deco glory, but faced with a whole host of renovation problems and their money fast running out, they worry that Dove House will never be ready to open in the New Year.

When a mystery man turns up, needing to fulfil a promise he made to his dying father and find the object he left at Dove House many years ago, Lorna’s heart goes out to him. But what they find there is going to change both of their lives forever.

Facing problems at every turn, and distracted by her heart, Lorna is going to need all the magic that her beloved Glendale can supply to make all her dreams come true…

An uplifting, inspirational and romantic read that will warm your heart. Fans of Jenny Colgan and Heidi Swain will love this.

How lovely it was to be able to return to Glendale, and to feel right at home once the familiar characters popped up. 

I'm sorry to say I'd forgotten that Lorna had appeared before, took until the authors note at the end for me to even realise, but given how much I enjoyed the book, I think that means I can easily say it works as a standalone novel 

For the main story and relationships in this are all brand new. And there is even an early mystery to work out, as well as a lot of renovations and talk of dreams.  Well more than talk of dreams, for dreams really do come true in Glendale, and it really is an apt title for this book. 

I loved getting to know Lorna and her entire family, and was willing her and Adam on in realising their dream of owning Dove House, and turning into a cosy B&B.  

There were plenty of various side plots going on, which I really enjoyed and found myself rooting for practically all the characters we meet.  From familiar faces, to the new this was just a lovely cosy story to read. 

So incredibly enjoyable and I really hope this isn't the last we see of the Glendale Hall gang. 

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

Book Review- A Chance in a Million by T. A. Williams

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Amazon UK

Title: A Chance in a Million

Author: T. A. Williams

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Canelo

Publication Date: 15th September 2022

Rating: 4 Stars

Fate brought them together, now it’s up to them to make it work…

Having left the army to recover from a traumatic experience, Captain Jane Reed is on her way to Venice to assist Lady Veronica Cooper, a world-famous writer who has lost her mojo. Plagued by grief and sleepless nights, Jane soon finds a kindred spirit in Veronica, coping with her own loss after the death of her husband.

When the two relocate to Veronica’s villa in the countryside to escape the summer tourists, Jane meets the rest of the Cooper family – including Veronica’s brooding son, David. With his own tragic past, David has resigned himself to a life of solitude. Jane finds herself determined to bring joy back into his life, even if it means finally spilling her secrets.

Can Jane and David help each other heal, and find love in the process, or are some scars too deep to treat?

A tender and uplifting romance for fans of Rosanna Ley and Jennifer Bohnet.

Kicking off with a scene which set up Jane's character really well, but was utterly exhilarating and terrifying too, the story then settles down into a really lovely story set between Venice and the Italian countryside. 

Jane is recuperating herself and her new boss Lady Veronica Cooper is still grieving the loss of her husband from 2 years previous.  Add in her son who also appears to be hiding something and trying to see if he can move on with his life and you have a group of broken characters trying to put themselves back together. 

There are some really wonderful characters, I especially took to Flora, Veronica's mother in law, who is 95 and acts significantly younger. And little Linda, Veronica's granddaughter is a tonic and a joy to be around. 

Then there is Dino, which is T.A. Williams trademark black lab and easily a favourite character, he is fabulous, and I could picture him so so clearly. 

And I really enjoyed the descriptions of Venice in the summer. I felt as though I was there alongside Jane, in the heat, and the little streets that you can easily get lost in. 

It's another enjoyable story from an author I automatically always want to read, it's not a new favourite, I just failed to connect to it on some level (and I have no idea why) - but it is still incredibly good and I had a massive grin on my face at the ending which really was just perfect. 

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

Book Review - Lost Luggage by Samantha Tonge

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Amazon UK

Title: Lost Luggage

Author: Samantha Tonge

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 22nd September 2022

Rating: 5 Stars

One lost suitcase. Two strangers. And a notebook that will change lives.

For almost fifty years, sisters Dolly and Greta have lived together – getting each other through the good times and the bad.

Except this year, Greta isn’t there and Dolly is feeling lost and alone. In memory of her sister, Dolly heads to the lost luggage auction where she and Greta go each Christmas. But her bid reveals a gift she never imagined.

Amongst the clothes is the notebook of a reclusive woman who has hardly been outside for an entire year, but who isn’t ready to give up on life. The notebook’s contents resonate with Dolly. With the support of her neighbours, retired Leroy and eleven year old Flo, Dolly decides to take on the year of firsts Phoebe had planned.

But, can you have a year of firsts when you’re seventy-two? And is Dolly ready to discover the notebook’s secrets, or are some secrets better left lost at the airport?

I think Samantha Tonge has surpassed her previous excellence with this book.  Just wow. 

This is uplifting, it's emotional in places, there are all manner of tough subjects within it, but ultimately it will make you feel good and have you thinking too. 

And it all begins with an auction for left luggage, which sets of a chain reaction of Dolly starting to live again, after a year of grieving for her sister Greta. And within Dolly's trunk she has purchased this year there is a notebook of Phoebe's year of firsts. 

Dolly decides to try to do some of these firsts for herself in the hope of reuniting the notebook and some other valuable contents of the case with it's owner.  And it's once we get into the firsts, which is where the story really gets going for me, and keeps me on my toes with so much happening and fabulous plotlines.

We get to learn all about Dolly and Greta's exceptionally close sisterhood throughout the book. I loved getting to know Dolly's neighbours, especially Flo, is one rather special 11 year old, and the amount of insect facts she comes out with are fascinating, impressive, and clearly means the author did a lot of research into creepy crawlies. (Sorry Flo even after all of your wisdom, I'm still not keen on them!). 

I can't really explain how wonderful the various elements of the book come together, without spoiling things, but I will say it's a truly wonderful story that I am so happy that I have had the opportunity to read, and that I feel could stay with me for a while. 

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

Book Review - The Hidden Secrets of Bumblebee Cottage by Christie Barlow - #HolidayReading Mexico

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Amazon UK

Title: The Hidden Secrets of Bumblebee Cottage

Author: Christie Barlow

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: 31st December 2022

Rating: 5 Stars

A new start…

When Jinny Birdwhistle is pushed over the edge one time too many times and quits her job as a tabloid journalist, an impromptu – and rather unconventional – job search leads her to a new house, car, and career making honey and chutney in the small Scottish village of Heartcross. And with handsome beekeeper Gabe Warner to help her learn the ropes, she’s ready to embrace ‘country girl life’ and leave the past behind her.

…uncovers an old secret

Yet there’s more to strong and silent Gabe than meets the eye and though Jinny planned to leave her journalistic instincts in London, she can’t help doing a little digging. Now, as she uncovers a mystery that links to her own history, Jinny realises that you can’t outrun the truth and the only way to move forward is to face the past. But now that she’s at home in Heartcross, she won’t have to do it alone…

Have I mentioned recently how much I love, The Love Heart Lane series, and Heartcross and all of its inhabitants?

Have I also mentioned that I adore Christie Barlows writing, always devour it and thoroughly enjoy every single word?

Because both of those statements are true for this new book too, utterly brilliant, 

I could tell there were secrets being hidden but the depths of them took me completely by surprise,  Didn't see that coming at all. 

From the moment I met Jinny I loved her, and even more so once she moves to Heartcross. 

I loved finding out more about The Bees Knees, and learnt far more about chutney than I have ever hd the desire to know! 

And her first days in her new job alongside Gabe are hilarious, especially involving a bee sting, which had me laughing out loud. 

The writing made me feel completely at home, as though I was being welcomed back to old friends (which as an avid fan of the series, I really was, always good to catch up with everyone), and the story felt like a warm hug. 

With fabulous characters, fantastic writing, and just a feeling that these are real people in a real place and not fictional, I loved every second of this book. 

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

Merry Christmas Everyone! I'm off... but where to and what's on my holiday kindle this time?

Fingers crossed that so long as I get to the airport in time on Monday morning (have a sister driving who is refusing to account for the fact that the weather could make the journey time longer), I should hopefully be off to Mexico on Monday morning. 

And given our current cold snap, I really do need to get some much needed winter sun into my body.  I am staying at this gorgeous looking hotel 

My intent is to spend 14 days, lazing by the pool with a kindle in hand, soaking up the sun, cooling off with a swim, and generally relaxing and doing as little as possible. My other holidays this year have been far too active - this one needs to be relaxed and calm and lazy, as I need a total reset before 2023. 

I literally can't wait to get onto that plane and then my holiday will truly start - even looking forward to seeing what films TUI are showing on the outbound journey, have this feeling will be too soon for the new Matilda to make it onto a plane! 

As has been tradition on my pre-holiday posts on my blog I'm about to show you what is currently on my review TBR - these are all books I've promised to review (my timing could be off on a large amount of them admittedly). 

For all of the books that I have had on this list since some point in 2020, or 2021, if it's one of your books then I do apologise, I'm really sorry I haven't got to them yet. I do try my hardest but I regularly close my eyes and stab my kindle at random to see what book I am reading next - and is what I will probably do within various collections on it throughout the holiday. 

Well how on earth are you meant to pick between books from fabulous authors, when you have so many of them to read!

So here are the 86 books on my Netgalley shelf, arranged by publisher (just cos I always like to see which publishers I should probably play catch up with at this time of year)  -  but which ones do you recommend?  What are you looking forward to reading yourself?

And which thriller should I start my holiday reading with (have read so many Christmas recently I need an addictive palate cleansing thriller to start the holiday with). 

What a selection, I thoroughly enjoyed making those graphics and if nothing else that is a great reminder for me as to what on earth I still have to look forward to reading and might be reading on this holiday. 

What are your thoughts on my Netgalley shelf? Any of your favourite authors?  I think there are around 21 books of these that are by authors I've never read before so that could be very exciting. 

Anyways my regular reviews will be back currently scheduled for 4th January. 

However you are spending the Christmas and New Year- I hope you have time to read loads of books!  

And please tell me which thriller / crime / psych thriller I should read on the plane to get my holiday reading off to the best start? (Just counted think I have 20 of those too). Anyone would think I have a balanced TBR at this rate! 

Have a very Merry Christmas and see you all in hopefully a Happy 2023! 

Oh and if you are so inclined feel free to let me know how many books you think I will read over the 14 night... with 2 long haul flight holiday! 

Book Review - Dead in Tune by Stephanie Dagg

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Amazon UK

Title: Dead In Tune

Author: Stephanie Dagg

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Self Published

Publication Date: 24th November 2022

Rating: 5 Stars

It’s nearly Christmas, a time for peace and goodwill. Or maybe not.

First the house of a Spanish family of flamenco dancers is burned down, then a Dutch man is nearly battered to death with his own clogs. On the night of the carol service, at which the Worldwide Friendship Club’s choir is singing, a Scottish bagpiper is found dead. By Martha, who has come across enough dead bodies already this year to last her a lifetime.

Convinced there’s a link to the choir, Martha and best friend Lottie set out on the trail of the murderer. Their unconventional sleuthing methods land one of them in rather a lot of trouble…

‘Dead In Tune’, the sequel to ‘Hate Bale’, is an entertaining, festive cosy mystery set in rural France.

Nothing like a bit of attempted arson and murder at Christmas! And what a cosy mystery this is, which ramps up the danger and caused my adrenalin to spike while reading this thrilling finale. 

So good to see Marth and Lottie back to their old investigative tricks as they attempt to work out who is causing the latest crime wave across their small French town.  Especially once they realise there might be a connection to the choir they are in. 

There are moments of humour, there is a definite festive feel to this story, complete with mince pies and carol singing, as well as villain who I had pegged long before our heroes worked it out. 

It's very rare for me to be right, although I had absolutely zero idea about the motivation. 

It is so good to see Stephanie Dagg back with a new release, it had been a while and I really do enjoy her rural French set cozies and this was no exception.  It kept me completely and utterly entertained for the duration and was a pleasure to read.  

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