Book Review- How to Write a Rom-Com by Cristina Wolf

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Title: How To Write a Rom-Com

Author: Cristina Wolf

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Aria

Publication Date: 15th May 2025

Rating: 5 Stars

Lucy Bowen has sworn off love.

After too many failed relationships, she's over the fairytale – but working at NYC's biggest romance publisher, Heartwarming, means she can't escape it. When the company's bestselling author, Ruby Jones, threatens to leave due to dwindling sales (and a complete lack of inspiration), Lucy's boss takes drastic action.

Her new assignment? Go to a small lakeside town and find the spark for Ruby's next big love story.

Lucy expects picture-perfect charm, but the town – and its grumpy yet extremely attractive restaurant owner, Liam – have other ideas. He's skeptical of city folk, and she has zero interest in falling for a small-town cliché. But rom-com rule number one? Love finds you when you least expect it...

If you are a hard core rom-com fantatic then just make sure you read this.  It's like an ode to a rom-com! 

It's a rom-com within a romance, within a Hallmark movie. 

It's small town perfection! 

And there are loads of references to Friends too which I was totally there for, as I have watched all the episodes far too many times. 

Lucy is now a fan of small towns, but she is trying to get a promotion to editor at the romance imprint she works for, and is asked to infiltrate a small town to come up with a plot and location for the imprint's best selling author to keep her onside. 

But on arriving well she meets a picture perfect hunk of a neighbour, who doesn't seem keen on big city people, but looks like he should be in the pages of a book. 

And everywhere she goes in Hudson Falls, Ruby is able to see parallels with small town romance novels. This works on so so many levels and just made me smile the whole time. 

And there is so much to both of our main characters and the varied cast of locals that she meets. I loved just about everyone and was just a pure joy to read. 

I'm a massive fan of the genre, and couldn't get enough of this book and author, which seems to be a very accomplished debut novel.  I am already eager to see what she will write next as this was fabulous. 

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

Book Review - The Pop-Up Cake Shop by Rosie Green

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Title: The Pop-Up Cake Shop

Author: Rosie Green

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Self Published

Publication Date: 4th April 2025

Rating: 5 Stars

Ellie is planning to bring Little Duck Pond Café cakes to the surrounding villages with her Travelling Cake Van! But as she’s ‘expecting’ to make a rather more personal delivery of her own very soon, will Katja be the one to get behind the wheel of this fabulously mouth-watering journey into the countryside?

As you may have realised by now I'm a massive fan of this series, and thus seeing a new book featuring one of the long standing Duck Pond Cafe team is always a joy. 

And this was unputdownable, with the exception of when I needed to come in from the garden as it had got chilly, but I had read the first 75% or so in one sitting, totally and utterly absorbed as I caught up with Katja.  And we get to see more of Ellie too which is always a bonus. 

I absolutely loved the idea of a new cake van, travelling to five of the local villages around Sunnybrook, and for it to sell cut price cakes that Ellie would otherwise throw out, in a way to help combat food waste. 

And getting to know some of the soon to be regular new customers was a joy, just seeing snapshots of their lives, plus some well intentioned advice / meddling from Ellie and Katja. 

Add in a couple of interesting builders, heartbreak, lots of delicious cakes, and you have yet another wonderful addition to this series. 

I can't stress enough how much I adore every single book in this long running series while continuing my admiration for the author that keeps coming up with fresh ideas.  It's always a joy to keep up old friends and it really does feel like catching up with family whenever you read one of these books. 

I'm definitely starting to think that this series would make an excellent drama / soap opera type TV series! 

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

Book Review - Not Moving Out by Jon Rance

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Title: Not Moving Out

Author: Jon Rance

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Hera

Publication Date: 15th May 2025

Rating: 4 Stars

Spouses Without Benefits - how can you move on without moving out?

Freya and Joe’s marriage has fizzled its way to the end, but for financial reasons, and to support their daughter in her final year of school, they decide they need to keep living together for six months.

They know it won’t be easy, but for Joe at least, it provides creative rewards: a struggling sitcom writer, he has found his new project. Why not write about his own situation? And the network loves it.

There is just one problem - Freya doesn’t know.

Can Freya and Joe navigate the six months together and might they find out something new about their relationship?

A relatable second-chance romcom perfect for fans of Mike Gayle and Beth O’Leary.

It's been years since I last read a Jon Rance novel, so I was very excited when this slid onto my kindle.  And it was incredibly enjoyable. 

Freya and Joe know their marriage is over, but they are determined to keep living in the same house for the next six months, until their daughter Dolly leaves for uni.  And thanks to this new dynamic between them, it leads to some very entertaining moments, as well as especially in Freya's case a discovering of who she is without Joe. 

As they gain new interests, inspirations and continue to try to persuade Dolly that everything is business as usual, they start seeing each other in various new lights too. 

It's Joe's deceptions that really added something to me, and with him being a sit com writer, I kept thinking that this book would be great generally on the small screen itself. 

I would love to see this turned into a TV series. 

I enjoyed the various characters and new friends that are made, and seeing how Freya and Joe change is heartwarming. I also really loved Dolly and contributions to this novel 

It's an all around enjoyable story that I had a great time reading. 

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

Book Review - If The Ring Fits by Camilla Isley

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Title: If The Ring Fits

Author: Camilla Isley

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 25th January 2025

Rating: 4 Stars

When Life Gives You Lemons, Fake an Engagement

When investment banker Adrian and software engineer Rowena started the day, they didn't expect to end it engaged! But Adrian has invented a fake fiancée to impress his CEO, regretting the lie almost immediately, and now he is in hot water. Meanwhile, Rowena's career has just gone up in flames, leaving her unemployed, unexpectedly expecting with no father in the picture, and short of options. When fate throws these two hot messes into a meet-cute of epic proportions, it's a match made in rock-bottom heaven. They say love is blind, and with nothing to lose, Adrian gets down on one knee... and Rowena says yes!

The rules of engagement are simple:

Pretend to be madly in love

Keep their real lives separate

Absolutely, positively do NOT catch feelings

However, faking it is harder than they thought, especially when every overnight stay comes with only one bed and zero personal space—blurring that imaginary line between 'just business' and 'definitely personal.'

Soon, their carefully constructed charade starts to feel alarmingly... real. Can Adrian and Rowena stick to their engagement pact, or will their fake relationship graduate to something authentically messy, complicated, and wonderful?

Find out in this hilarious, heartwarming tale of two strangers who said "I do" before they even said "Hello." Because sometimes, the worst day of your life just might lead to the best mistake you'll ever make.

If the Ring Fits is an age gap, marriage of convenience rom-com with a multi-millionaire MMC and a STEM FMC perfect for fans of Lynn Painter, Sarah Adams and Fallon Ballard...

It's always a fun time when you are reading a new Camilla Isley novel and this was no exception. 

I love the various ways this author can come up with totally plausible fake dating scenarios, but given how gross the initial meet cute as such was, I would strongly suggest not eating while reading the first few chapters of this book. 

Once past that, Rowena and Adrian enter into an agreement for a fake marriage.  Rowena has just been made redundant and discovered she is pregnant on the same day and has no desire to be anywhere near the father.  Adrian discovers to be in line for his promotion despite his work being good that he needs to be more family oriented. 

They come to a mutually beneficial arrangement, but as these complete strangers get to know each other, while trying to persuade everyone they are a legit couple, real emotions may appear. 

Afterall the book opens with them heading in to get divorced with Rowena admitting something privately to us, that is rather interesting while the next chapters deal with how they got to that point. 

With cameos of other Camilla Isley characters, this is a treat for the authors superfans. 

And the story itself was amusing, and highly enjoyable.  I had a great time reading this and wondering just how it would turn out. 

I love fake dating stories and this one was definitely a winner for me. 

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

Book Review - Shadows of Deception by M. A. Comley

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Title: Shadows of Deception

Author: M. A. Comley

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Jeamel Publishing Limited

Publication Date: 17th April 2025

Rating: 5 Stars

The truth hides in the darkest places.

When two prominent members of the Hereford community are found murdered in chillingly distinct ways, DI Sara Ramsey and DS Carla Jameson are thrust into a case as twisted as it is deadly. As the body count rises, the killer’s cryptic messages point to a hidden truth buried in the past, a truth someone will do anything to avenge.

With time running out, Sara and her team must navigate a web of lies and betrayal, where every clue brings them closer to a dangerous enemy. But in a town where no one is who they seem, exposing the truth could cost them everything.

Another totally unputdownable book from this fabulous author. 

And another fresh feeling story in this long running series. It is always great to join DI Sara Ramsey on a new case, and this time we also see her getting to know a new DCI, and Carla's dad is having health issues too. 

Add in a case that may have a connection to one of the team, and that they are positive there is a serial killer at play, despite a variety of killing methods, which seemed fairly inventive. 

It's definitely a tricky case and my only prediction was thankfully totally off the mark. I had no idea who the murderer was, and I was willing Sara and her team on to work it out, despite the lack of evidence. 

This was totally gripping and was really quick to read and is another great instalment in this fabulous series. 

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

Book Review - One Night at the Château by Veronica Henry

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Title: One Night at the Château

Author: Veronica Henry

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Orion

Publication Date: 5th June 2025

Rating: 4 Stars

One night to fall in love.

One summer to change everything...

Over the last few months, Connie's whole world has fallen apart. Her husband's run off with an older woman, the magazine she works for has gone bust and she's having to sell the family home. So when her beloved godmother, Lismay, begs her to help run the beautiful Château Villette, it couldn't come at a better time...

No one knows the château quite like Connie. She spent a blissful summer there in her twenties, learning to cook delicious French food for the guests, ironing the lavender-scented sheets - and trying to resist the very handsome neighbour, Remy.

As soon as she arrives, it's clear that the château is close to crumbling and Connie knows she's going to have her work cut out. Could it be the fresh start she didn't even know she needed - and will she find a way to save the château, before it's too late?

I totally fell in love with the chateau that is in the heart of Provence and heart of this story. 

It had been key in both Connie and Lismay's lives for a very long time, and and Lismay needs her goddaughters help, Connie drops everything to help out.

We get chapters from both women's perspectives including discovering just how they bought the chateau and in Connie's case just what happened in her summer there in her 20s.

In addition to getting to know all the staff and trying to come up with ways to keep the chateau experience running smoothly.

Both are women of a certain age or older and have truly lovely stories that i couldn't help but feel they were part of the family afterwards. 

I really enjoyed this book and could really imagine the setting and the incredibly hot guy too. And the ending really made me smile.  

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

Book Review - It's Always The Husband by C. L. Taylor - #HolidayReading Tenerife

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Title: It's Always The Husband

Author: C. L. Taylor

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 5th June 2025

Rating: 5 Stars

Welcome to Lowbridge. Where secrets hide behind every door…

When newly divorced Jude arrives in the small town of Lowbridge, she is soon drawn to widower Will, the father of her young daughter's best friend.

But Will's past is shrouded in tragedy, with questions that no one knows the answer to – and after two tragedies tore his life apart in just a few short years, gossip and rumours abound about what really happened to the women he loved.

As whispers of murder surround Will, Jude becomes determined to uncover the truth – and with her own father's tragic fate haunting her, she refuses to let another innocent man suffer.

Yet in Lowbridge the darkness runs deep, and nothing is as it seems. Can Jude protect Will from a community out for blood? Or will she become the next victim in this web of deceit?

Because whilst one dead wife is tragic, two starts to look like murder…

C. L. Taylor has done it again and written a spectacular novel, where I had no idea what to believe and was astounded by the ending. 

What I know for sure is I don't want to live in Lowbridge, nor be one of the playground mums there, as their friendship group appears to be rather toxic. 

And what an apt title this book is, for there are definitely some iffy husbands in this, but then again are their wives any better!

There is a mystery at the heart of this book, about what really happened to Robyn.  Did Will murder her, did she run off, or is there another explanation for her disappearance.

And Jude who is new to town, but may have already slept with Will, who is determined to find out the truth to clear his name. 

This was incredibly readable, rather addictive and I couldn't' put it down. I had to know who it would turn out.  Utterly brilliant as I have come to expect from this author. 

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

Book Review - Escape to the Country Garden by Hannah Langdon

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Title: Escape to the Country Garden

Author: Hannah Langdon

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Storm Publishing

Publication Date: 13th March 2025

Rating: 4 Stars

A sweet and funny romance that will wrap you up in a big, warm hug!

Frankie Carlisle finds herself back at Feywood – her family's crumbling manor house – after yet another disastrous break-up. Her sisters Juliet and Martha try to comfort her, but Frankie can’t help but wonder why everything always seems to go wrong in her life…

Then a charming stranger arrives on the grounds, and Frankie's world is turned upside down once more. Could this unexpected encounter be the key to mending her broken heart and restoring the faded glory of Feywood, or will old wounds sabotage this last chance at happiness?

It was lovely to be back at Feywood and with the Carlisle sisters in this second book in what I'm guessing will be a trilogy! 

This time we have Frankie as the main character, and she is the one I probably knew the least after the previous book, but she is back at the house and nursing a heartbreak while also suffering low self confidence and feels like she needs to move her life in a new direction. 

And it just so happens Rousseau has come up with a plan for her, and gets Nathan to start working there, to help get the gardens under control and he volunteers Frankie to assist. 

Frankie like all the family seem to be excellent at whatever creative pursuit they turn their hands to, and it was great to see her start to have a real love of gardening and garden design. 

And she has a good heart, as when she sees there is a pair of peacocks looking for a new home, she is first in line to offer to take them in at Feywood, much to the amusement of, but with the support of everyone else! 

I found it hard to properly connect to Nathan, we had chapters from his point of view, and although things were alluded to in the past, I felt as though I would have perhaps like a bit more time spent on them, to really get a feel for how his childhood has shaped his career decisions. 

With some of the story taking place in Tuscany too, this is a lovely summery read, and I am absolutely adoring this series and the family at the heart of it.  And I'm very eager to see Martha's story in the next book and whether she will be given the romance that has been hinted at it the first two books! 

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

Book Review - Escape to the Country Kitchen by Hannah Langdon

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Title: Escape to the Country Kitchen

Author: Hannah Langdon

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Storm Publishing

Publication Date: 13th June 2024

Rating: 5 Stars

An uplifting new romance from a bestselling author… a warm-hearted tale of second chances and healing hearts.

Shy, world-weary Juliet Carlisle reluctantly returns to her family's crumbling English manor house, seeking solace after a painful heartbreak… only to discover that her family has launched a new cookery school, run by the handsome but irritatingly cheerful French chef Léo Brodeur.

Between her manipulative ex, two much-loved sisters who just won’t stay out of her business and a home falling down around her ears, Juliet has enough on her plate without dealing with an exasperating Frenchman. But as they work together in the kitchen – surrounded by the warm scents of baking croissants, fresh garden thyme, and Léo's peppery cologne – she begins to see a more serious side to him that she never noticed before.

Just as her heart begins to mend, Juliet discovers the shocking reason Léo suddenly left France, and she doesn’t know what to believe. Should she run away, or fight for the chance of a future at Feywood filled with healing… and maybe even love?

A poignant and heartfelt country kitchen romance that explores the power of second chances. Perfect for fans of Heidi Swain, Phillipa Ashley, and Sarah Morgan.

What a lovely start to the Feywood Sisters series this was, and I'm already totally invested and keen to read the next books which probably give you a good indicator of what I thought of this first one! 

For I loved it - ok at times I was a bit frustrated with both Juliet and Leo for not communicating clearly, but they had their reasons and with their backgrounds, I could understand them, it was just a bit like I wanted to knock their heads together! 

Juliet is a fabulous character, she had a fractious relationship with mother, she's escaped a controlling relationship and isn't completely happy at being asked to give up her London life in order to help out with trying to save the family home. 

There are a lot of walls built around Juliet and as she softened and adapted to her new circumstances, including her interactions with Leo, I began to really love her. 

And I'm certainly eager to get to know Frankie and Martha better in their books, as well as returning to Feywood, to catch up with Rosseau, Will and Aunt Sylvia.  There is a cookery school that has been set up at the house that is what lends the book a foodie feel to it, and at times it certainly made me hungry. 

I loved discovering the family dynamics, and all of the characters grew on me throughout, apart from Toby (but you are meant to hate him with good reason). 

This is another very enjoyable book from Hannah Langdon, which is what I've come to expect from my previous experiences.  Bring on book 2 of this series! 

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

Book Review - The Revenge Plot by Jackie Kabler - #HolidayReading Tenerife

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Title: The Revenge Plot

Author: Jackie Kabler

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: 30th May 2025

Rating: 5 Stars

When Ella Leonard arrives at work one Monday morning, she’s stunned.

The place isn’t just shut – it’s gone. Boarded up, closed down.

Days later, she gets home to find she’s been evicted from her flat, her belongings piled on the doorstep.

It’s as if, bit by bit, someone is taking her entire life away from her.

Who, and why? And how much worse can it get?

The answer? A lot worse.

Three women scorned

All out for revenge! 

Who will come out on top?

It all starts with Ella, and her initial situation is intriguing, as she goes to work on Monday morning and discovers that over the weekend the locks have been changed, everything from the coffee shop has been removed, and even a key order had apparently been cancelled the previous week. Ella has no idea what or why, and when things escalate from that, it gets even more interesting. 

There are so many levels of deviousness within the pages of this novel. It kept me totally gripped. I was never sure where the story would take us next, and kept being open mouthed at some of the revelations / twists. 

It's another utterly brilliant psychological thriller from Jackie Kabler, and I couldn't get enough of it.  I can't say any of the characters would be someone I'd want as a friend, but they are realistic, possibly marginally unhinged and I could understand some of the motivations.  

it's dastardly, compelling and I was totally there for it. Just fabulous. 

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