Book Review - The Silver Ladies Do Lunch by Judy Leigh

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: The Silver Ladies Do Lunch

Author: Judy Leigh

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 2nd June 2023

Rating: 4 Stars

When Lin, Josie and Minnie left Miss Hamilton’s class at Middleton Ferris County Primary School, sixty years ago, they could only dream about what the future had in store for them.  The one thing they knew for certain was that their friendship would thrive.

Years later and life hasn’t always been kind.  Josie is still mourning the loss of her beloved husband Harry a year after his sudden demise. Lin is hoping to celebrate her fiftieth wedding anniversary with husband Neil, but he’s suddenly keeping secrets and telling her lies, so she’s suspecting the worst  And as for Minnie, well she loves her life in Oxford academia, but with no family to call her own, she sometimes wonders if the sacrifices were all worthwhile.

So, when the ninety-year-old Miss Hamilton – or Cecily as she lets them call her now – glides gracefully back into their lives on her glamorous purple mobility scooter, the ladies are in need of inspiration and fun.  And over their regular lunches, the friends start to dream of leaving the past in the past and embracing the future, because there’s nothing you can’t achieve with good friends at your side.

Judy Leigh is back with the perfect blend of fun and friendship, capers and caring. The perfect feel-good story for all fans of Dawn French, Dee Macdonald and Cathy Hopkins.

What a lovely story about the value of friendship and community. It's heartwarming to see how Lin, Josie and Minnie's friendship has endured since primary school and how everyone on the village has fond memories of Miss Hamilton. 

Who has now moved back into the area, and soon becomes a friend to the Silver Ladies, joining them for their regular lunches. 

I enjoyed getting to know all of our main characters, in addition to young Florence who has her own secret, and needs the support of the older women so much. 

As I have come to expect from a Judy Leigh novel, this features the more mature in years ladies, living life to the fullest. I think if I have one ambition in life, it would be become like a Judy Leigh heroine when I'm older, still enjoying life, and in the case of this book, perhaps a lot like Minnie. 

I would have loved a teacher like Miss Hamilton, Cecily, she seemed wonderful and so devoted to her pupils, and even in her nineties, she is still a fabulous woman, who is a role model to us all. 

This was a character driven novel that had me wanting to know more about all of the characters plus those in the wider community, as we learn so much about all of them. 

What a great place to live, and what an enjoyable story. 

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

Book Review - I Wish We Weren't Related by Radhika Sanghani

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: I Wish We Weren't Related

Author: Radhika Sanghani

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Headline Review

Publication Date: 6th July 2023

Rating: 4 Stars

Reeva Mehta is thriving. Consumed in her career as one of London's top divorce lawyers, she doesn't bat an eyelid when her mum calls to tell her that her dad is dead. Because he's been dead since she was five . . . hasn't he?

If finding out her dad was alive - until last week - wasn't bad enough, his last request was for his daughters to spend fourteen days in mourning at his house. Which means Reeva must spend a fortnight stuck with the people who betrayed her when she needed them the most - her sisters.

Navigating her absent Bollywood megastar mother, newly dead father and scheming sisters with only a temperamental boyfriend - and even more temperamental cat - by her side, it's no wonder Reeva's hair is falling out. Could confronting the truth help the Mehtas put aside their differences, or will attending a funeral be the death of this family?

A fresh, funny and oh-so-relatable novel about trying to be the grown up when your magnificently messy family seems set to sabotage everything. Get ready to laugh, cry and fall in love with this addictive read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and despite it centreing around death and a fourteen day morning period, it wasn't a sad depressing book.  It felt quite life affirming and dealt with a few tricky topics, appropriately, and ultimately was about loving yourself. 

At times I found Reeva really hard to connect to, but as the book went on and she actually started to work on herself, I found myself rooting for a lot. 

I thought the story was a great concept, and really enjoyed getting to know the sisters that Reeva rarely sees or talks to anymore.  And their mum is a larger than life character, and Reeva's nieces are adorable and have some of the best funny lines in the book 

I was hooked on trying to find out what the big secret was that lead to Reeva's mum faking her husband's death for so many years. It's such a drastic thing to do, to cut a father off from his family, and the siblings came up with so many outlandish theories, as they started to learn about the father they never knew, after his real death. 

I love books featuring characters from a different culture to my own, and really enjoyed learning more about the Mehta family and their family's religious death customs. 

I especially loved the wisdom of the long last auntie, who was easily one of my favourite characters. 

Very enjoyable, I had a good time reading this and will certainly be looking out for more by this author in the future. 

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

Book Review - The Wagging Tails Dogs' Home by Sarah Hope

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: The Wagging Tails Dogs' Home

Author: Sarah Hope

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 31st May 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

Life could not be busier for Ginny and the team at Wagging Tails.

The annual dog show is looming, a crucial event when it comes to fundraising and ensuring the volunteers can continue the brilliant work they do.

But their trusted newspaper reporter, who always includes them in his weekly column, is retiring, only to be replaced with a city-slicker named Darryl. And Darryl, as Ginny soon learns, has no interest in articles he deems 'below him'.

Not one to take no as an answer, Ginny becomes determined to get him to meet the dogs themselves. One look at their cute faces and they'll worm their way into his heart.

But what Ginny doesn't anticipate is that Darryl might be more open-hearted than he seems. And inviting him to the dogs' home might be the best decision she ever made – even if she doesn't realise it at first!

Well with a title like that, this book was always going to capture my attention, and once I started reading, I knew it was right to. As the words held my attention as I devoured this story over a Bank Holiday Monday. 

If this is the quality of Sarah Hope's storytelling normally then, she has just won a fan in me, as I loved this book, and her writing. 

I was gripped and really cared about all of the dogs at the Wagging Tails Dogs' Home,  while being angered at some of the conditions the dogs arrived at the dogs home in.  But they never turn anyone away, and although fund raising is critical to them, the team is made up of a motley mix of complete and utter dog lovers. 

And the dogs were utterly adorable and stole my heart, especially Tiger and Luna. 

But it is also about our faithful 2 legged companions, yes the humans, and Ginny is devoted to the dogs home and is determined to get the local paper to run articles leading up to the Family Fun Day, which is easier said than done on discovering their local reporter has suddenly retired. 

This was very easy to read, and a sheer joy to . I loved every second of this book, and am already definitely keen to read more from the author.  Just wonderful. 

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

Book Review - An Italian Island Summer by Sue Moorcroft

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: An Italian Island Summer

Author: Sue Moorcroft

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 25th May 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

Will one summer in Sicily change her life for ever?

After her marriage falls apart, Ursula Quinn is offered the chance to spend the summer working at a hotel on a beautiful island off the coast of Sicily, Italy. Excited by a new adventure, she sets off at once.

At Residenza dei Tringali, Ursula receives a warm welcome from everyone except Alfio, son of the Tringali family. He gave up his life in Barcelona to help his mother Agata with the ailing business, and is frustrated with Ursula’s interference – and she in turn is less than impressed with his attitude. As they spend more time together, though, they begin to see each other in a different light.

But what with Ursula’s ex-husband on her tail, family secrets surfacing and an unexpected offer that makes Alfio question his whole life, there’s plenty to distract them from one another. Can she face her past and he his future, and together make the most of their Sicilian summer?

Once again the immensely talented Sue Moorcroft has written a rather addictive story that took me no time to devour.

I loved the Sicilian setting, especially in a part of the island that is off the beaten track, thus giving us a glimpse into a lesser known part of the island.

And I loved Ursula's change of career and learning about ceramics with her.

Ursula's family dynamics are rather tricky, which leads to all sorts of great moments.

I loved the B&B she was working at, and getting to know Agata and Alfio especially. 

A story that transported me to Italy and beyond, with links to Under an Italian Sun (which will please any fans of that book too) and made me wish I could get on a plane and soak up the Sicilian way of life. 

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

Book Review - The Vanishing of Class of 3B by Jackie Kabler

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: The Vanishing of Class 3B

Author: Jackie Kabler

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source:Netgalley

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: 11th May 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

One spring morning, a bus full of children and their teachers from a Cotswolds primary school head off on a much-anticipated day trip.

But as night falls and the well-heeled parents – one or two of them famous, as well as wealthy – wait at the school to collect their weary offspring, it soon becomes clear that something has gone very wrong.

The children and their teachers simply do not come back.

What’s happened doesn’t seem possible.

How can an entire class of children simply vanish?

It must be a parent or teacher's worst nightmare, going off on a school outing and not returning home.  But just how can a school bus of 10 children and 4 teachers just disappear without a trace?

Surely it has to be impossible, and the reasons behind it are pretty unguessable. 

It is an incredibly well crafted, well plotted, and very clever premise to this story, that had me under its spell. I was reading into the early hours until my eyes couldn't stay open any more and then had a disturbed night's sleep a result. 

It is also clear quite early on that various parents are hiding things, but as a reader I only got to work out some of the secrets, a few beats before the characters, they seemed that well concealed. 

I was open mouthed for a lot of the time I was reading this, in part due to the parents, which although I felt sorry for them all, I also didn't seem to like most of them, baffled as to how on earth the police were ever going to figure this case out, while in fear that pure innocent children may be harmed. 

It was such a fiendishly clever, well thought out plan from the villains of the piece, that I was in awe of them, 

Another truly spectacular story from Jackie Kabler. 

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

Book Review - Sunshine and Secrets at Blackberry Beach by Holly Martin - Blog Tour

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: Sunshine and Secrets at Blackberry Beach

Author: Holly Martin

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Self published

Publication Date: 7th July 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

Welcome to Apple Hill Bay, where the emerald sea sparkles, golden sands glitter and sunshine and romance sizzle. From the bestselling author of The Christmas Tree Cottage comes this summer’s hottest love story.

From the moment Fern Lucas arrived at its stunning shores, she knew Apple Hill Bay would forever be the place she calls home. Living in her little beach hut with her beloved dog Bones, and her artist business on the verge of taking off, life couldn’t be more perfect. Or so Fern thinks…

When a competition for a mural commission at Blackberry Beach pits her against the gorgeous Fletcher Harrison, sparks fly instantly. Within days their electric chemistry has them tumbling deep into love. Within weeks they can’t imagine a future without each other.

But Fletcher has a secret, a past he can’t escape, a past that he believes means he can’t give Fern the life they’ve dreamed of. And that past is about to catch up with him…

Get ready to fall head over heels this summer with this scorching romance, guaranteed to set hearts on fire. Perfect for fans of Jo Thomas, Sue Moorcroft and Phillipa Ashley.

I don't know how Holly Martin continually does it, but once again she has hooked me into the most special little story that I felt right at home with from the first few pages.  And I especially was hooked on Fern and Fletcher, plus Bones.

From the first couple of pages and their first meeting, I could tell I was reading a special story, asFern and Fletcher had such an immediate connection, it had me wishing that sort of feeling was in fact real. 

They have instant chemistry, and their first date is really romantic. They are down to earth people that have both had tricky pasts, which they are trying to overcome, but whether love really does conquer all, remains to be seen. 

I also loved their various creative skills, how much they are loved within their small community and I really loved Fletcher and his work at Reloved. 

There is just something so special about this authors writing ability. I was drawn into the community, and was rooting for Fern and Fletcher the whole time. Add in Bones who has his own big storyline too, which I suspect will raise awareness of a canine issue that I definitely didn't know existed,  some good friends, and some fantastic chemistry and you have an incredibly enjoyable story. 

I just adored this book from its gorgeous cover to the end page, it's just everything I want in a romantic story and I can't help but think it would make a great film too. 

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

Book Review - The Christmas Postcards by Karen Swan - #ChristmasInJuly #HolidayReading Mexico

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: The Christmas Postcards

Author: Karen Swan

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: MacMillan

Publication Date: 27th October 2022

Rating: 5 Stars

The right words can change everything . . .

It had been a make-or-break Winter holiday for their marriage, but Natasha and Rob’s rekindled romance is short-lived when their daughter’s beloved soft toy disappears on the journey home. As Natasha comforts her distraught child, she turns to social media for help. Miraculously, the toy is found, but it has become the lucky mascot of a man named Duffy, who is thousands of miles away trekking in Nepal.

When Duffy promises to keep Natasha updated with pictures, a correspondence begins that soon becomes more meaningful. Sometimes, Natasha feels this stranger half way across the world understands her more than the man lying next to her.

But as the weeks pass and Duffy heads deeper into the mountains, Natasha notices a change in him. Then one day, the messages stop. Too late, Natasha wonders why he had ever needed a lucky mascot at all.

Set in a snow-covered Cotswolds village, The Christmas Postcards is a cosy, escapist festive delight from Sunday Times bestseller Karen Swan.

It's not a festive reading season without a new Karen Swan novel and I'm delighted to say this is another winner from her. 

Couldn't put it down, was completely hooked on Duffy's chapters, and his trek in the Himalayas. 

And I loved the "postcards" he sends to Mable from Moolah, utterly adorable, as is Mable. 

Nats we get a couple of timelines from, and I enjoyed seeing the lead up to her marriage as well as how things are with her now, 

She's a complex character, who its hard to get a complete handle on at first, but I soon grew to care for her too. 

And there are many curveballs thrown at us, the reader, to keep us on our toes and had me gasping at times. 

I always enjoy my Christmas books with a spot of something different which the Himalayas gives us plenty of, plus a side order of peril. 

Was completely hooked on another wonderful festive Karen Swan novel. 

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

Book Review - A Snowfall By The Sea by Isla Gordon - #HolidayReading Mexico - #ChristmasInJuly

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: A Snowfall By The Sea

Author: Isla Gordon

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Sphere

Publication Date: 24th November 2022

Rating: 4 Stars

Cleo loves winter in Wavebreak Bay. The tourists leave as the temperatures drop, the fairy lights go up and it really starts to feel like home again. It also happens to be the time of year that her best friend Eliot comes back from San Francisco.

Though the seasons change, not much else in Cleo's life does. She's in a people-pleasing rut taking the worst shifts at the family restaurant, pet-sitting for her parents and making little time for herself. Cleo has spent so long thinking about everyone around her that she's lost sight of what she wants. And she wants Eliot. And she's decided that, this year, she's finally going to tell him.

But as the snow settles on Wavebreak Bay, Cleo's Christmas-for-two is disrupted by the arrival of her entire family - and more guests keep arriving. As Cleo works hard to make sure everyone else is having the most wonderful time of the year, will she finally pluck up the courage to stand up for herself . . . and to follow her heart?

Filled with beach walks, hot chocolates and a will-they-won't-they romance, this is the perfect festive treat for fans of Sarah Morgan and Heidi Swain.

Really nice story about Christmas in Devon, and about Cleo finding herself and getting herself out of  a rut 

For a fair amount of time Cleo's inner voice drove me bananas. She is a big time people pleaser, and procrastinator (although thinking about it, both of those could apply to me to!). 

It's a will they, won't they get it together sort of a book, and from the flashbacks of Cleo and Eliot's friendship, we get to see clearly how everyone has felt over the years. 

Once the story got going and we approached Christmas and Cleo's self imposed deadline for a few things the book picks up speed, and became are more compelling to read. 

I could picture the setting and everything so vividly and I absolutely adored the story once we got to Christmas, where nothing goes quite according to plan. 

It's highly enjoyable and kept me entertained throughout. 

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

Book Review - The Gingerbread Cafe by Anita Faulkner - #ChristmasInJuly

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: The Gingerbread Cafe

Author: Anita Faulkner

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Spheree

Publication Date: 27th October 2022 

Rating: 5 Stars

CAN GRETEL FIND THE RECIPE FOR THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS?

The Gingerbread Café is always full of Christmas magic. Come rain or shine (or even a July heatwave), there's always a hot chocolate bursting with cinnamon and marshmallows waiting for you. For introverted Gretel, it's been the perfect escape from 'real life'. The owner, Nell, is Gretel's last link to her late mum, and hiding out at the café feels so much safer than making new friends.

So when Nell suddenly passes, Gretel is left heartbroken. Then she discovers that Nell has left the café to her - but there's a catch. Gretel has to share the running of The Gingerbread Café with the least festive person ever: Nell's nephew, Lukas. Head chef at the local fancy restaurant, Lukas makes it clear he has no time for the café, Gretel or even Christmas itself, and Gretel's too busy struggling to save her burnt batches of gingerbread to work out why.

Gretel is determined to keep Christmas alive and make the café a success before Lukas hands the keys over to the scrooge-like developers. But she can't do it alone; besides an over friendly ferret and a waitress with a secret, the only person she has now is Lukas. Will it take a Christmas miracle to get the pair to finally see eye to eye, or could the ice already be melting?

Packed full of sugar and spice, The Gingerbread Café will tick all the wishes off your Christmas list this festive period. Perfect for fans of Heidi Swain, Jo Thomas and Bella Osborne.

A truly lovely story full of personal growth, moving onward with life, a great sense of community, new friendships and above all gingerbread.

Well and Christmas which is a big theme throughout and by the end you are left with a sense of the true meaning of the Christmas spirit.

I enjoyed trying to work out the truth about Amber,  seeing how Gretel grew in confidence as the story progressed, and all of the other fabulous shop owners in the small town. 

It's heartwarming and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this story. This may be the first book I've read by this author but if she writes more with sense of place, and more delicious sounding sweet treats then count me in for more. 

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

Book Review - Christmas Eve at Cranberry Cross by Kate Forster - #ChristmasInJuly

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: Christmas Eve at Cranberry Cross

Author: Kate Forster

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Aria

Publication Date: 29th September 2022

Rating: 5 Stars

No one loves Christmas more than editorial assistant Eve Pilkins.

But when her boss hits her with a huge deadline on Christmas Day, it looks like Eve's favourite time of the year might be cancelled. Armed with as much enthusiasm as she can muster, she travels to the coldest part of England, tasked with ensuring brooding author Edward Priest finishes his latest novel on time.

The festive spirit at Cranberry Cross is as dark as the house itself; without a fairy light in sight, it looks like only a Christmas miracle can save this one. Will Eve be up to the task?

What a wonderful story, I couldn't help but absolutely fall for Flora and Myles, and was incredibly caught up in their story and hoping that they would get what was so sorely missing in their lives. 

I really felt for them, as they don't have the best of mothers, and a workaholic father and it takes for Eve to come to edit Edwards new book, for them to start to change. 

Eve is the real catalyst in this story and I really enjoyed getting to know her, seeing how she was dealing with Edward and his writers block.  The more I got to know her family the more I loved them. 

I just really found myself hooked on life at Cranberry Cross, and caring about all of the characters. Seeing the children come out of their shells and develop was really heartwarming as were the festive touches featured. 

A very fast to read book, from an author I always enjoy this was fabulous. 

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