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I read Happy Family by this author last year, and it was definitely one of my favourite thriller books of the year. The bright and simple cover really jump out on this one, and if I didn’t already know that this author was utterly brilliant, this is definitely one I’d be tempted by the cover of anyway!

Blurb:

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

1st January MURDER LISA, OXFORD
1st February MURDER JANE, BIRMINGHAM
1st March MURDER DAVID, CARDIFF
1st April MURDER MARY, CHELTENHAM

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

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

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

My thoughts:

Wow. I just don’t know how my review will do this book justice. The letter from the “diary killer” is a great catalyst and opening to the story. The story was original, and twisty, and gripping.

I definitely had my own suspicions about who the culprit was and why, but I was proved wrong at every turn. There are some unbelievably clever twists that you will not see coming.

I loved the fact that, to a certain extent, we were able to view this story through two lenses: firstly that of suspected victim and journalist Mary Ellis, and secondly that of the police investigators trying to ‘crack the case’.

This definitely adds to the tension and frustration the reader feels about the situation, and having no idea about who could be to blame – so many of the characters seem a little snakey!

The ending was very clever, quenching my thirst for needing to know the solution, but also providing a few extra twists and revelations as the icing on the cake.

This will definitely be one that you won’t want to put down – after a few pages you will be completely hooked. As things stand, this will be my book of the month and a real contender for one of my top books of the year, too!

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Although I love a Christmas read, even I would be sceptical about reading a book with this title in what is essentially the height of summer, were it not for the fact that this is a Rosie Green book, and one from the incredible Little Duck Pond cafe series, so I had high hopes it would not disappoint.

Blurb:

Mackenzie Morris, newest recruit at the Little Duck Pond Café, is the perfect addition to the team. But beneath her smiles, Kenzie is hiding a dark secret. It’s the reason she fled to Sunnybrook, desperate for a fresh start that would help to lay the ghosts that haunt her.

The challenge of turning her hobby into a business is a welcome distraction, and to her relief, she finds that her range of quirky pottery mugs and vases appear to be in demand. Alone and scared when she arrived, she’s slowly making friends and starting to feel as if she belongs. Meeting a lovely guy called Aidan seems to confirm this and it looks as if love might be on the horizon.

But then Kenzie makes a devastating discovery that threatens to crush her new-found happiness. Aidan is the one person she yearns to confide in. He’s also the one person who can never know the truth . . .

My thoughts:

This series just gets better and better with each book. Though I confess I haven’t read all of them, I’m pretty certain I’ve read about 13 or 14 of them now, and I have adored each and every one.

Each installment carries its own merit as a stand alone story, and to be honest if you’re coming to this delightful series as a new reader or with fresh eyes, I’m even a little envious as it is utterly brilliant.

In this book, we meet Kenzie, the newest staff recruit at the wonderful Little Duck Pond Cafe. I loved her as a character – loyal, moral and hard-working. In this book, Rosie reeally delves into Kenzie’s past in so much detail that it basically becomes a sub plot. I was completely gripped by both the present day story, which had elements of romance, but was not without its difficulty, and the heart-rendering and quite traumatic story of Kenzie’s past.

I was unsurprised to read that Rosie shed a few tears writing this book, as it is very emotional at times, and maybe this is because it hit close to home, but it felt very raw and real.

Overall, a dramatic and gripping story about freindship, romance, secrecy, and putting the past behind you. Once again an unputdownable read. My heart is breaking a little that we are almost at the end of the series! Highly recommend this book and author to fans of Heidi Swain, Holly Martin and Milly Johnson.

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As this book is branded as a gripping thriller, and the cover is reminiscent of books by Gemma Rogers and Emma Tallon, who are two of my favourite authors, I was keen to give this author & book a try.

Blurb:

The gripping new revenge thriller from the bestselling author of The Fall and The Trap.

When stable girl, Farah Ash, is sacked from her job, her only concern is the beloved horses she cares for. Farah suspects foul play and is determined to expose the secrets and lies she’s uncovered – no matter what.

Self-made millionaire, Isaac Fernandez witnesses Farah’s shocking dismissal and senses immediately that she has uncovered something dangerous – perhaps even deadly. And his fears are confirmed when Farah is almost killed.


And as more threats come Farah’s way, it’s clear someone is out to silence her for good. Unless Farah and Isaac can uncover the truth and put a stop to the deadly chase – before it’s too late.

My thoughts:

It took me quite some time to get into this story. Although Farah and Isaac were immediately likeable, and their world easily visualised due to Evie’s close descriptions, I wasn’t massively sold on the danger & risk involved in this book at first, and found it a bit of a slow burn.

However, this only lasts for a short time as suddenly it is clear that Farah is in very real danger, and there is in fact a threat to her life. Having built an image of Farah as a hard-working and responsible person with a sympathetic backstory, from this point on I had more investment in the story and where it was going.

There are two threads to this story which heighten the tension – the threat to Farah and the growing relationship between Farah and Isaac. The two together make for a well-balanced and enjoyable read.

This is an easy read, which I was able to finish quickly and I did enjoy a lot of the elements. I would recommend this book and author to fans of Edie Bayliss and Jessie Keane.

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I am simply just a huge fan of Camilla’s books and am so glad that she just keeps releasing absolute corkers. I was very excited for the chance to read and review this release. The gorgeous red colour is eye catching and the title definitely gives off a romantic and escapist feel.

My thoughts

Blurb:

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

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

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

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

And the battle begins.

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

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

My thoughts:

I loved this book and prertty much devoured it in one sitting, or at least in one day. Samantha was a likeable character, funny and down to earth, loving and friendly, and I didn’t expect to connect with her as well as I did. Her lifestyle and career are far removed from what I’m familiar and comfortable with.

Camilla pits the city against the country in this fast paced tale which takes us to two very different areas of America. You have the bright lights and bustle of New York, pitted against what Samantha initially sees as the “nothingness” of Indiana. As more of an urban girl and home bird myself, I definitely identified with Samantha’s scepticism about moving away from what she knows.

Travis is definitely an interesting character, and the way they meet does set up a vague enemies to lovers trope, though I did feel the dialogue was more like carefully veiled flirtation and sexual tension than anything else.

This is a relatively plain sailing and simple read, which is somewhat predictable but also extremely comforting due to its lovely themes and warmth. Camilla explores themes of family loyalty, long-distance relationships, friendship, work ethic as well as providing a balance of humour and romance. Camilla’s books always earn their place as comedies, by providing some laugh out loud relief to the often more serious, life changing matters of the main plot.

It was a delight to read from beginning to end. I would definitely recommend this book and author to fans of Portia Macintosh, Holly Martin and Rachel Dove.

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I was captivated by this author’s style when I read The Prisoner. Though this has a different stance and premise, I was excited to get stuck into the DI Barton series. As is typical of me, this is the first of the series I’ve read but I am relatively new to this author’s work.

Blurb:

The BRAND NEW thriller from bestselling author Ross Greenwood now!

When DI Barton is asked to investigate a seemingly innocuous fire that kills, he believes it’s either children fooling around or a worrying racially-motivated crime.

As he delves deeper into the case, he soon realises that there is a history of similar blazes spread out over many years, all within a close area. An idea suggested by pathologist Mortis makes Barton suspect he has the arsonist’s motives wrong.

When a night worker comes forward with a tip, Barton narrows down the suspects. But with all of them acting suspiciously, he knows for sure that one or more of them must be lying. And when a huge house blaze shocks everyone, Barton fears the killer has lost all control.

Who is The Fire Killer? What will be next to burn?

DI Barton is back as Ross Greenwood continues with his bestselling series, perfect for fans of Mark Billingham and Ian Rankin.

My thoughts:

I was hooked into this one straight away. An intriguing timeline, a modern commentary on policing and urban life in general during a pandemic, and a softer look at the commitments and dedication of a police officer.

DI Barton thinks he might be dealing with a pyromaniac, but as we are told “You know what arson is like. Fire doesn’t leave many clues behind.” Therefore, this is a complex case to unravel with very few leads, and it takes professionalism and perseverance from DI Barton and his team to try and crack the case.

It really didn’t seem to matter that I have never read from this series before, as I immediately warmed to Barton. In true Ross Greenwood style, the story is full of realism, humour and shows the humanity and family life of DI Barton.

As danger comes closer and closer, and the case becomes more urgent, I became more and more invested in this story and willed for an exciting, yet satisfying conclusion. I loved hearing from “The Fire Killer’s” point of view, giving an engaging voice to those who are often branded as the faceless “evil” members of our society and community.

Overall, an engaging and gripping book which I have really enjoyed. For many years, I loved crime thrillers, but of late they have fallen by the wayside. Books like Ross’ re-ignite my love, and need, for books from this genre on my shelf.

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This is a new author to me but she has come highly recommended by a huge number of bookish friends. The cover is deliciously dark, with the lipsticks highlighting the theme of facade, and how perfection is only surface deep. This is definitely something that is explored in a brilliant way in the book, and I share my full thoughts below.

Blurb:

Holly is getting married, but not before a celebration weekend with her closest friends. After a night of arguments, a body is found floating in the swimming pool of their secluded cottage. Holly must face up to the truth – one of her bridesmaids is a killer, but which one?

New beginnings. Old rivalries.

Best friends. Bad blood.

Five bridesmaids. One body.

Fans of The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl and The Wife Between Us will love this pulse-racing psychological thriller. Once you start reading, you will not be able to stop!

My thoughts:

“Lies are hard to hold onto – slippery, malignant things that are difficult to keep under control.”

I loved so many things about this book. The isolated setting, and the extreme weather conditions, certainly add to the sense of danger and claustrophobia, further exacerbated by some unexpected guests.

The characters provided a little bit of an issue for me at first. Although it’s understandable that Victoria didn’t want to produce likeable or empathetic characters, I found the number of multiple perspectives and different strands quite difficult to follow, at first. This is definitely a complex story, with a huge tangled web of lies that needs to be ironed out. As a reader, you feel a little lost and unsettled for a while, but that may well have been the author’s intentions.

I slowly began to understand the characters, their differences and their motives. Here, the multiple perspectives comes into their own as all the women have different theories about what each of them is hiding, and you begin to build your own opinions based on this.

There were quite a few unexpected twists, and one in particular that I really didn’t see coming. I’d say that probably, for the the last 35% of the book at least, I was hooked and gobbled it down. I had to know the outcome!

This book is really well-written and provides an insightful and original exploration into the danger of secrets and lies. I did have sympathy for Holly in the end, but not much!

“Tell yourself something enough times and eventually it becomes the truth.”

This has been an eagerly anticipated read for me, as I really enjoyed the Boardwalk by the sea series previously. Once again, a gorgeously uplifting title and cover that just entices you in!

Blurb:

Welcome to the Sunshine Island – where the beaches are golden, the lifestyle is perfect and anything is possible.

Piper Le Brocq is happily single after the disastrous ending of her engagement eighteen months before. The only man in her life is Jax, her best friend and cousin, who spends his life teaching locals how to forage and taking tourists on boat trips around the island. Her days are filled with helping out at her mother’s guest house and selling her glass mosaics at The Cabbage Patch emporium in Trinity.

Piper loves living on the Sunshine Island, where the neighbours look out for each other and visitors are welcome. So, when handsome guest Alex Cooper arrives at the guest house to check up on his grandfather, she welcomes him to the sunny island. And when he needs help after his grandfather is injured, she’s quick to get involved.

Yet, the more she gets to know Alex the more mysterious he seems, and Alex isn’t the only one keeping secrets from her.

My thoughts:

I was drawn into this book straight away. Firstly, the setting felt sort of nostalgic in a strange way as although I’ve never been to New Jersey myself, it felt familiar from all the stories my mum and grandparents have told me about their visits when my mum was young. Also, the wonderful descriptions make it easy to picture and have definitely sold it to me as a unique yet local holiday destination.

I loved the characters. Piper is hard-working, focused, likeable and helpful, but it’s clear there is something in her past she is working hard to forget, or move away from. Alex is enigmatic yet friendly, warm and loyal yet keeping an obvious distance, and this provides the reader with a curiosity that will keep them hooked.

This is a generally light and fun read, though there are some unexpected twists and an overarching feeling of secrecy and keeping things back which helps to add to the excitement and keeps the reader intrigued.

Overall, a light-hearted and engaging read with likeable characters, and a promising start to the new series by Georgina Troy.

I would recommend her books to fans of Holly Martin, Heidi Swain and Jaimie Admans. I look forward to the next installment!

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I adore Kathryn’s books, and I had high hopes that this one would be no exception. I have previously read and loved The Beach Reads Book Club and Mr Right Across The Street.

Blurb:

Dream job. Dream house. Fake fiancé.

A year in a gorgeous Italian castle…

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

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

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

My thoughts:

I love the fact that each of Kathryn’s books is so different, yet so familiar and wonderful. I enjoy the fact that she doesn’t produce books around the same setting/characters as this gives each new book a fresh, exciting feel and makes me even more keen to pick it up and read it.

Despite being introduced to new characters in each book, the characters are always well-developed and easy to like or sympathise with. Anna is a likeable character, a similar age to me, and I really identified with her shame at having lost everything and having to start again. I really hoped and wished for her happy ending.

Jake was also a brilliant character. A shady past, but a choice you could easily understand when you got to know the details and got to know Jake a bit better. I think he might be my new favourite fictional crush. He sounds gorgeous, appears fiercely loyal, determined and protective. He has his flaws and a bad boy edge, including a terribly dry and sarcastic sense of humour, which actually really appealed to me and made me like him more.

Their story is not plain sailing, and that’s unsurprising when you consider their complex history and trust issues, but this is definitely a journey worth following very closely.

The ‘fake fiance’ trope is one I’m finding quite popular in romantic fiction at the moment, but I’m going to put it out there and say that out of the ones I’d read, this appeared the most authentic, and dramatic!

This has been an absolutely gorgeous and escapist read, where, to my liking, the characters and story carry the escapist setting rather the other way round. This is my favourite read by this author, my official book of the month & will probably find itself on my top 22 of 2022. It’s given me a new fictional crush, a warm fuzzy feeling inside, and hope for the future of men 🤣

Ideal for fans of Holly Martin, Jaimie Admans and Georgia Toffolo.

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I really enjoyed The Island last year by this author and gave it 5*. Therefore, I was very excited to be involved in reviewing Mary’s latest release. I love the spooky window cover and the tag line, as a thriller that is focused on the domestic sphere is usually my favourite sort of thriller.

Blurb:

It was meant to be a safe place to start again…

In need of an escape from her failing marriage, Nia agrees to house-sit her aunt’s cottage on the Isle of Wight. She feels sure the cosy close in a quaint harbour town will be a safe place to hide and figure out what to do next.

But things are not all as they seem in the close, and the neighbours who welcome her with open arms, are keeping secrets. When Nia finds the body of one of her new friends lying on the beach, she feels sickeningly sure that the killer is dangerously near to home.

Who killed her friend and why did she have to die? And if Nia discovers the answers she’s looking for, is she next on their hit list? Good neighbours may become good friends, but they can also make deadly enemies…

Mary Grand’s intricate psychological mysteries are perfect for fans of Claire Douglas, Lucy Foley and Agatha Christie.

My thoughts:

This book carries a lot of similarities to Mary’s previous book. The beginning of the book provides an atmospheric and slow-burn set up, where there are dark hints that the neighbours may not be as “good” as they seem, including a voodoo doll and a mysterious, anonymous confession.

Though the community appears welcoming and friendly, there is also an overbearing and claustrophobic atmosphere to it. Though some of the characters are well-developed and the cracks begin to show, I have to admit struggling to forge a connection with any of the characters.

There is a huge shocking event, that unravels a complex web of secrets that you won’t see coming.

I definitely enjoyed the “whodunnit” and murder mystery puzzle element of the story.

Overall, an enjoyable and complex story with an engaging focus on what goes on behind closer doors, and how an idyllic community setting can disintegrate before your very eyes. This is a great choice for fans of Samantha Hayes, Claire Seeber and Sheryl Browne.

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Firstly, who wouldn’t want to go the location that is so beautifully illustrated on the cover? An idyllic, rural, riverside setting and then as you open up and begin reading, you come to realise that it’s not just a cafe but a bookshop/cafe. What’s not to love? As well as this, I’ve read a couple of Sue’s books now and they’re all great!

Blurb:

As soon as Kat Jenson set foot in the idyllic French village of Kirchhoffen, she knew she’d found her home. Now she has a dreamy boyfriend, a delightful dog and the perfect job managing a bustling book café in the vibrant Parc Lemmel. ‘

But when she learns her boyfriend isn’t all he seems, it’s the start of a difficult summer for Kat. Vindictive troublemakers, work woes and family heartache follow, and the clear blue sky that was her life suddenly seems full of clouds.

Then she gets to know the mysterious Noah, and her sun begins to shine brighter than ever. But Noah has problems of his own – ones that could scupper their new-found happiness. Together, can they overcome their many obstacles, and find love again?

My thoughts:

I knew that I would love this book and struggle to put it down as soon as I met Kat. She is a hard-working, resilient, trusting and loveable character who deserves every happiness.

As things start to unravel for Kat, I really felt for her and was completely hooked on following her journey. The twists kept on coming, and you can’t help but feel sorry for Kat. This is definitely helped by Sue’s excellent character development, through which she creates a likeable character and a believable, traumatic back story.

The setting is absolutely glorious but I do sometimes struggle more recently with books that claim to be ‘escapist’. In order to help you escape, they pile on the descriptive language, and although clearly showcasing the author’s linguistic ability, it can sometimes make the story feel stilted or hinder the character development. This is definitely not the case in this book, and you almost feel as if you are there through a process of osmosis, as you feel like you are walking in Kat’s shoes and experiencing things from her point of view.

The wonderful descriptions are there, of course, but they always serve a purpose and everything is carefully narrated through Kat’s perspectives. I guess I’d summarise it as the story carrying the setting, rather than the setting carrying the story which is where I sometimes get a little lost with these sorts of books.

I was definitely also pulled into and intrigued by Noah’s story. Described as an enigmatic character, it was nice at times to hear more about him from his personal viewpoint, providing another layer of drama and intrigue to the story.

An absolutely gorgeous, summer read which I have struggled to put down. It provides a careful balance of ‘escapism’ through exploration of romance, success and new beginnings, balanced with the ‘realism’ of adultery, divorce, manipulation and so on. A really wonderfully balanced and brilliant book, that I would highly recommend. This is a great choice for fans of Heidi Swain, Holly Martin and Donna Ashcroft.