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I am a big fan of Katie Gayle’s books and this is the second series of hers that I am following, having previously read and loved the Epiphany Bloom series.

Blurb:

Julia Bird’s picturesque Cotswolds life is everything she’d dreamed of. Until, that is, she discovers a dead body in the library…

Julia Bird had imagined the quiet of rural life would be soothing after years in the city, but she finds she can’t just sit still.Determined to throw herself into village activities, she joins the library just in time to attend a talk by celebrated local author Vincent Andrews.

Charming, devilishly handsome and talented, Vincent teases the crowd with a reading from his forthcoming novel. Set in a village bearing strange similarities to Berrywick, with characters the audience start to recognise, Vincent hints of dark secrets to be revealed, to gasps of outrage from the room. The meeting ends in uproar, and, just hours later, Vincent’s dead body is discovered behind the bookshelves…

As one of the last people to see him alive, Julia feels morally bound to help the police investigate. With her trusty Labrador, Jake, at her side, she decides to do her own sleuthing and quickly discovers that Vincent’s personal life is messy, his finances are in disarray and his book sales are declining. But most of all, remembering her neighbours’ faces at the book reading, Julia wonders if one of them could have lost the plot enough to kill…

As Julia interrogates the suspects, she walks straight into another scene of murder and mayhem, and realises Vincent’s manuscript is now missing. There’s someone out there who’s deadly serious about keeping their secrets unpublished. Will Julia be able to stop them, before anyone else gets hurt?

Brilliantly twisty, this completely thrilling cozy mystery is perfect for fans of M.C. Beaton, Helena Marchmont and Clare Chase.

My thoughts:

I read this book at a time when my anxiety, and people’s anxiety in general in the UK I feel, was quite high. I was gearing up for a new year at school, with a new prime minister on the horizon, as well as lots of changes to our family dynamic. This was the perfect escapist antidote.

Julia Bloom is a great main character. She is easy to like and identify with. I can always understand the nosy nature of the ‘normal’ people at the forefront at these sorts of stories as this is exactly what I’m like myself.

Katie brings the close-knit village lifestyle to fruition here and you can really imagine yourself there and get lost in it.

The story of the murder in the library is original and shocking, and I loved following the investigations and clues throughout the book. It was definitely hard to predict and the rears some great twists and turns.

Another entertaining and comforting cosy mystery from an established author in the genre. I would recommend this series and author to fans of Verity Bright, K. T. Lee and Alice Castle.

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I think this might just be the most gorgeous book cover I’ve seen this year. I love Beth Moran’s books and hoped this festive, winter read would be no different.

Blurb:

After the end of a long-term relationship, local weather girl Bea Armstrong has been avoiding her family, and their inevitable ‘I-told-you-sos.’ But with Christmas fast approaching, she is finally on her way home to Charis House, the school in Sherwood Forest that her mum and dad run in their old family home. And to top it all off, the insufferable Henry Fairfax – who her parents have always wanted her to marry – has also been invited.

Relief comes in the shape of a last minute interview for her dream job. There are just a few minor problems… The interview is in Scotland, Bea has no car, and the snow is falling already. The only solution is for Henry to drive her – could this Christmas get any worse…

But during an unforgettable two day interview, a stay in a log cabin and a nightmare journey through the snow, Henry turns out to be nothing like she thought.  And when Bea’s first love and recent ex shows up, Bea has a difficult choice to make…

Reading Beth Moran’s fabulous novels makes every day better. Feelgood, satisfying, with smart characters and gorgeous settings, it’s impossible not to fall in love with a Beth Moran story. Perfect for all fans of Jill Mansell, Julie Houston, and Jenny Colgan.

My thoughts:

This was an adorable, uplifting read with a heartwarming message and is completely escapist.

I loved the character of Bea. She is down to earth and relatable despite her local celebrity status. I identified with her need to reconnect with her family. I felt she stood for the values of authenticity, community spirit and kindness. I felt sympathy towards her in many of the situations she encounters and dilemmas she faces: with her job, Adam, Baxter and Nanny Joy.

I also really loved the character of Henry. You could immediately see that he too had the same values as Bea and was a true gentleman. He definitely stood out amongst the big cast of vibrant and lively characters.

This is what I would describe as quite a long book for this genre, but it certainly doesn’t feel that way as you’re reading. There’s so many themes and dramatic strands involved, such as family, finances, romance, identity and work. It is easy to get immersed and lost in this book, needing desperately to uncover the resolutions to many of the problems that are thrown up.

Will Bea follow her head or her heart? Will she take a chance on any or all of the new beginnings that are offered to her? I definitely needed to find out the answers to those questions as I was fully invested in Bea’s character and life. another five star read for me from Beth Moran. Perfect for fans of Donna Aschcroft, Jaimie Admans and Kiley Dunbar.

This was undoubtedly another five star read for me from Beth Moran. This is a perfect choice for fans of Donna Aschcroft, Kiley Dunbar and Jaimie Admans.

I adore Zara’s books and she’s become a must read author for me. I find her books fun, engaging and easy reads with likeable characters and I had high hopes that this would be no different.

Blurb:

Two people. One journey…

Millie loves her city life, her city friends and writing her true(ish) confessions column – but she’s starting to wonder if the grass really is greener on the other side, or if her heart really belongs back in Northumberland, with her mum who is struggling after the death of Millie’s dad.

Since leaving home. Joe’s lived believing that looking back means you’ve failed, and life is about taking chances and seeing the world.

So when the two meet up surely it can never work, their lives are moving in opposite directions. On different tracks…

My thoughts:

I really liked both Joe and Millie, and really appreciated the fact that we got to hear from both their perspectives. This enhanced the romance but also the drama and the connection with both characters.

I really identified with Millie’s desire to feel successful at work whilst maintaining a close bond with her family, especially with what they’d been through.

I also connected with Joe’s view of focusing on the future and making the most of life. I also really liked hearing from his point of view as this is quite original and unusual for a story in this genre.

The way they are thrown together is fun, entertaining and original and I loved seeing how the story developed. There is always the concern lingering of how Joe might feel about being featured in a magazine, which added to the drama.

There is adequate depth to this book and also a little bit of the thrill of the chase, plus some spice, which all make for a perfectly balanced romantic fiction book!

I highly recommend this book and author to fans of Portia Macintosh, Paige Toon and Nicola May.

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I was looking forward to reading this book as it’s the first fiction release for this author. I’m a huge psychological thriller fan and always keen to try out new authors.

Blurb:

We were all at the party. Which of us wanted her dead?

As the smoke from the bonfire spirals into the night sky and the cool drinks slip down our throats, none of us can take our eyes off Lacey. She dances in the dunes, her long golden hair damp from her late-night swim, her smile dazzling, her blue eyes closed.

Everyone who is close to Lacey sits by the smoky fire. Her adoring boyfriend, who holds onto her, perhaps a little too tightly. Her little sister, always in Lacey’s shadow, sifting fine soft sand through her fingers, never taking her eyes off Lacey. And me. Sad and full of rage, after an argument forced the man I love to leave the party early.

When the fire burns out, we stumble away from the beach, along the cliff path – faces burned by the wind, hearts full of secrets. But Lacey never makes it home. The next morning, her body is found in the sand dunes, a heart-shaped locket missing from around her neck.

Who would have thought our beach party could end the way it did? Close friends gathered on the last night of a long hot summer – which one of us could have killed the girl everybody loved?

My thoughts:

The premise to the book and the opening is really engaging and original. The plot quickly speeds up as the story of what happens to Lacey is told, and the mystery is left wide open as the police was unable to solve the case.

I liked the fact that the re-telling of the story was centred around a true crime podcast as I listen to these myself and find them really interesting, also it’s an unique and engaging way to retell a story from lots of different perspectives without having the complexity of lots of different multiple perspectives.

Amy teases us quite a lot with the plot, as there are a number of times when we feel close to solving the case but we aren’t. There is definitely a shocking and unexpected twist at the end. I felt it came completely out of the blue and I’m still not sure how I feel about that – I may need more time to digest it.

Overall, an engaging mystery with some intriguing elements of psychological fiction as the author delves deep into the minds of many witnesses as she tries to explain what has happened, and why. I would recommend this book and author to fans of Rona Halsall, Miranda Rijks and Wendy Clarke.

I was excited to read this book because I do love a cozy mystery series. This is a new to me author but I was looking forward to seeing the mystery unravel.

Blurb:

Meet Beth Haldane: a single mother with a taste for gardening, snug coffee shops… and solving mysteries?

It’s a crisp spring day in Dulwich Village when Beth arrives at Wyatt’s School for her new job as the historian’s assistant, keen to impress and settle in. But on a lunchtime stroll admiring the five-hundred-year-old grounds Beth is shocked to stumble over the body of her new boss Alan Jenkins: spectacles askew, his mustard-yellow tweed jacket torn.

Beth can’t resist using her research skills to hunt for the killer and soon discovers Alan rubbed his fellow teachers up the wrong way… was it the handsome headmaster? The gossiping receptionist? Or the wily groundskeeper with a secret?

When Beth returns from her sleuthing to find Alan’s wife rifling through the archives, it’s clear there’s something shocking at the heart of this school… But with parents and teachers panicking that the respectable reputation of Wyatt’s is under threat, will Beth find herself in the murderer’s sights before the school bell rings?

Wander down the cobbled streets of Dulwich, where nothing is as perfect as it seems! Fans of Agatha Christie, The Thursday Murder Club and Faith Martin won’t be able to put down this deliciously gripping mystery.

My thoughts:

This book was a lot of fun to read, and the pages seemed to fly by quickly. I liked the character of Beth, who seemed, for want of a better word, relatively ‘normal’. I was able to identify with her work ethic, her nosy nature and her occasional feelings of loneliness.

As cosy mysteries often are, this book has far more to offer than the mystery at its core. It’s about new beginnings, work, family, as well as touching on topics like equality and prejudice. There was a lot bundled into the book and the majority of it was delivered in a light but yet engaging way.

Although I did manage to predict, or at least strongly suspect, the perpetrator from early on, I still enjoyed seeing all the twists and turns unravel. I was left quite a long time wondering, and was beginning to worry that the book would end on a cliff-hanger. However, there is a satisfying and quite dramatic conclusion which I enjoyed.

Overall, an enjoyable and entertaining read with all the hallmarks of an excellent beginning to a sustainable and engaging cosy mystery series. I recommend this book and series to fans of Katie Gayle and Verity Bright.

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I adore Nicola May’s books. There is something so original and yet so comforting about her books. I was really looking forward to this, her latest release. The title sounded extremely fitting as this word and way of working has certainly become popular and relevant, especially since the Covid pandemic. It also sounded like an exciting opportunity to explore characters’ connections and emotions within a small physical space.

Blurb:

ONE TURKEY FARM, FIVE WILD COLLEAGUES AND A BARN FULL OF MYSTERY

When jilted crime writer August Saunders returns from London to her roots in rural Wiltshire, she feels lost and lacking in inspiration. Determined to reignite her writing mojo, she responds to an advert for a shared workspace in a converted barn.

At the Hub, with its ill-equipped gym, inedible catering and motley array of fellow users, including a matchmaker more interested in her own conquests and a TikToker with a dodgy nocturnal sideline, August is confronted with a real-life mystery to solve.

Why is Max Ronson, the handsome but volatile owner of the Hub, so evasive about his past? And who or what is he hiding on the premises? She is determined to find out – but will her curiosity snuff out the spark of romance?

Nicola May mixes mischief with mystery in a fast-paced rural romp which will make Futtingbrook Farm as beloved a location as Ferry Lane Market or Cockleberry Bay.

My thoughts:

Nicola May creates characters that are wholesome, believable and raw. I really took to the character of August. As a writer, her qualities were complet5ely fitting. She appeared somewhat reclusive at times, also very nosy or interested in mystery, focused, determined but also capable of empathy. She was just a great main character.

Nicola’s writing style is very original and engaging. The book discusses some dark themes, including grief and suicide, but Nicola ensures the tone remains light through her dry and sarcastic sense of humour.

The romance element is also very believable and this part of the story definitely had me hooked. It felt relatable and real, as they struggle to navigate and find harmony between all the pushes and pulls of real life. I actually very much prefer this sort of romance in a story, when compared to the ‘sweep you off your feet’ idyllic romance.

To sum up, this was an entertaining, fun but also addictive and emotional read. It’s a great story about finding your place in the world and letting go of the past.

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I have been part of a Facebook group called Chick Lit and Prosecco for some time, and it’s been great to virtually meet Karen, the author of this book, there, and be exposed to her work! I am very excited to share my thoughts on this, the first in a new series!

Blurb:

It’s 1981 and the Thorpe family – Robert, Sandra and their eleven-year-old daughter Louise – decide to move from the city of Lincoln to a village seven miles away. Moving into New Barnham, they must each find their place in a village where they know no-one and Louise has to start at a big new secondary school.
The cul-de-sac they move into has eight semi-detached houses. Behind each front door live people with their own lives, their own stories to tell. Soon the whole of Whitlock Close will become involved in each other’s lives, each other’s stories.
The village has its own events too and besides the households of Whitlock Close, we find out about the book club and the Village Twinning Committee, while Louise joins the City Gymnastics Club for her own adventures.
In a Close which has all types of people, and all ages from four years old to a man in his nineties, it is understandable that all kinds of emotions will be found here. From young love to the loneliness of widowhood, from temptation and addiction to fun and friendship, we find everything here in Whitlock Close.
And lots of dogs and cats.

My thoughts:

I would describe this book as cosy and comforting. I would also describe it as televisual. What I mean by that is, that when reading, I was clearly able to visualise the Close, the characters and families that live there, and their interactions. There were times when I felt like I was reading a written version of a soap opera, like Coronation Street.

There is so much that happens in this little close, and so much that happens in a relatively short space of time in this book. There is a real close-knit community feel to the Close, and therefore the book. I have seen some people describe it as ‘nostalgic’, and although many of the cultural references passed me by without much reaction as I wasn’t born until ten years later, I did feel a sense of nostalgia about the way everyone pulls together and feels close as a community. I truly feel this is something lacking in modern life.

There is a lot of drama in the book, more than I was expecting at first if I’m honest, and the book definitely touches on the themes of community, racism, sexuality and acceptance in a very effective way.

There are a great bunch of vibrant, likeable characters from all walks of life. I loved the fact that we heard from, and about, people from all ages and stages, from pre-teen Louise all the way up to 90-odd year old Norman.

Overall, a comforting and nostalgic book full of heart and community spirit.

I absolutely adore Isabella May’s books and this series is no exception. I have read quite a few in this collection of foodie romances, and I think each one just gets better and better. I love the softness of this cover; it definitely draws you into this story, which is actually quite a rollercoaster!

Blurb:

One steamy summer in Spain. One accidentally double-booked eight-tier wedding cake that needs to put in a same day appearance at a rustic countryside finca AND a beachside villa. Two brides. Two grooms. Hundreds of hungry guests.

FREYA ASHCROFT, owner and culinary whizz at Marbella’s five star bakery (and general queen of dating disasters), is going to need a miracle to save this date. If only that was her sole dilemma. She’s also fallen head over heels in love with super hot fitness instructor, TIM NUTKINS… and his rippling abs.

Which would be fine, if he wasn’t one of her aforementioned male clients.

A forced proximity rollercoaster of a forbidden love romance with a sweet happy-ever-after.

My thoughts:

I loved this book and catching up with some familiar characters from previous installments, as well as meeting the wonderful Freya. She is hard-working, ambitious and puts her business first, over her own needs.

She is a believable, likeable character who it is easy to sympathise with. I identified with her need for more work/life balance, and her desire for a worthwhile love interest!

But it is the whole cast of vibrant characters that make this book. There’s eccentric and wonderful Alice and River, as well as Piper who becomes a sort of fun villain character, and likeable, down to earth Tim.

This is definitely an atmospheric and escapist read as Isabella brings so much to life through her descriptions: the Spanish setting, the wedding venues and the amazing variety of wedding cakes on offer at FOM!

This is a really fun read, with some wonderfully light-hearted moments and some brilliant dramatic twists, that all lead to an ultimately satisfying and happy ending.

I absolutely loved this book and have no hesitation in giving it five stars. It’s perfect for fans of Camilla Isley, Lucy Coleman and Daisy James.

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I was so excited to read this new book by Rebecca Raisin. Unfortunately, this is only my 2nd read by her but this definitely won’t be my last as this one in particular has really impressed me and touched my heart.

Blurb:

Everyone has a story. You just have to read between the lines…

When Elodie applies for the job of librarian in peaceful Willow Grove, she’s looking forward to a new start. As the daughter of a media empire, her every move has been watched for years, and she longs to work with the thing she loves most: books.

It’s a chance to make a real difference too, because she soon realises that there are other people in Willow Grove who might need a fresh start – like the homeless man everyone walks past without seeing, or the divorcée who can’t seem to escape her former husband’s misdeeds.

Together with local journalist Finn, Elodie decides these people have stories that need sharing. What if instead of borrowing books readers could ‘borrow’ a person, and hear the life stories of those they’ve overlooked?

But Elodie isn’t quite sharing her whole story either. As the story of the library’s new success grows, will her own secret be revealed?

An uplifting story about fresh starts, new beginnings and the power of stories, from the bestselling author of Rosie’s Travelling Tea Shop!

My thoughts:

This was an absolutely gorgeous read and has joined the list as one of my favourites in this genre for 2022. It is emotional, dramatic, heart-warming and romantic.

Elodie and Finn make great central characters. They both have interesting back stories that help you to invest in their future and see where their attitudes and values have come from. I identified with Elodie’s need and desire to live a simpler life in a close-knit community.

Of course, the problem with living in a close knit community is that your secrets don’t stay secret for very long. This causes a lot of drama and tension in the book, and as a reader you’re left hoping that the community will accept Elodie for the selfless, brave, motivated character she appears to be.

The concept of ‘saving the library’ is one that’s very close to my heart, as an English teacher and all-round lover of books. Elodie’s ideas are great, and through her efforts and determination we meet a wider cast of characters through the library. Every character you meet in this book carries their own story, and serve as a reminder to never judge a ‘book’ by its cover.

Maisie was a character who intrigued and infuriated me. We are all wary of change but her attitude towards Elodie and her job in general seemed, at first, completely unreasonable. She is another character who Rebecca peels back the layers for in order to give the reader a deeper understanding.

Overall, a stunning read about books, libraries and everything they stand for – empathy, community, romance and society. I would recommend this book and author to fans of Holly Martin, Portia Macintosh and Hannah Lynn.

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I absolutely adore Judy Leigh’s books. She is an expert at what she does: creating uplifting, sensory, fun and humorous romantic fiction. It goes without saying that I had really high hopes for this one. The title tells me that it’s going to be based in one of my favourite places in the world, Scotland, and I was looking forward to escaping there!

Blurb:

In the imposing Glen Carrick House overlooking Scotland’s famous Loch Ness, lives eighty-eight-year-old Mimi McKinlay, cared for by her three adult sons. Hamish has inherited his mother’s musical talents, Fin is the responsible brother, and Angus has the complicated and brooding personality to match his dashing good looks.

But what all the brothers share is a concern that their beloved mother is living in her memories of her days on stage, while letting her present days pass her by.

Jess Oliver is at a turning point. Amicably divorced after years of being married, this trip to the Highlands is a first taste of independence. It isn’t long before the beauty and hospitality of Scotland captures her heart.

When Mimi and Jess’s paths cross, a friendship is formed that will change both women’s lives.  And as together they find ways to look forward instead of to the past, long forgotten dreams are within reach, and every new day is fresh with possibilities.

Take a trip to the Highlands with Judy Leigh for an unforgettable story of glorious pasts and fabulous futures, of love, friendship, family and fun. The perfect feel-good novel for all fans of Dawn French, Dee Macdonald and Cathy Hopkins.

My thoughts:

I devoured this book from start to finish. I was hooked into it through the character of Jess and her decision to extend her stay in the highlands, out of what seems to be, at first, pure necessity. The interest didn’t stop there, though.

There are so many likeable, vibrant, sympathetic and believable characters. Firstly, I could identify with Jess’ need for escape and also to find somewhere to settle. I admired Mimi’s energy, determination and confidence and I love the fact that Judy always gives older characters a starring role in her books. For me, Mimi is the star of the show in this book, just as she believed herself to be the star when she was on stage in the West End. I also had huge sympathy for each of the Mckinlay brothers. I felt for Fin, going through a difficult divorce. I also wanted Angus to find happiness and hope for the future following his tragedy. Finally, even though Hamish seems to be living the high life, I did carry some sympathy for him as he seemed to be under a lot of pressure to fulfill his mother’s dreams, and also seemed to miss home!

It is the characters, their dialogue, their believable relationships and their engaging backstories that make this book, but there is also a lot else that this book has to offer. It is filled to the brim with humour, light romance, friendship and is essentially just full of heart and loveliness.

There is something in this book for everyone. If you’re looking for an everlasting love story, you will find it in this book. If you’re looking for a book that puts characters that are often marginalised, such as older characters or characters that struggle with their, to the fore, then you will find it in this book. If you’re looking for light-hearted humour and some laugh out loud moments, you will find them in this book. If you’re looking for a deeper exploration of what it means to love, trust, have a family or a life-long connection, you will find it in this book. There are times when I wanted to burst into laughter, and others when I felt I had no choice but to burst into teachers. This is a very touching and heart-felt book, especially as I felt the characters were coming to life before me.

I have read lots of Judy Leigh’s books, but I think this joins Lil’s Bus Trip as one of my all-time favourites. I highly recommend this book and author to fans of Maddie Please, Milly Johnson and Hannah Lynn.

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