About the Book:
‘A lovely mystery evocative of the period from a talented writer.’ Helena Dixon, bestselling author of the Miss Underhay mysteries
Someone’s been read their last rites…
1915, London: Working in the dusty bookshop that her Aunt Violet mysteriously inherited, Hannah Merrill is accustomed to finding twists in every tale. But discovering her beloved best friend Lily-Anne – with a paperknife through her heart – in the middle of the bookshop, is not a plotline she saw coming.
The case is anything but textbook. With the discovery of a coded German message, and Hannah’s instinct that Lily-Anne’s husband is keeping secrets, she determines to get to the bottom of it.
She can’t do it alone though. To crack this case, Hannah will need the enlist the help of her outrageous, opinionated, only-occasionally-objectionable Aunt Violet.
They think they’re making progress until one of their chief suspects is found dead. And Hannah realises that she is herself now in the murderer’s sights. Will the final chapter be the ending of a killer… or just a killer ending?
A totally addictive, WW1-set cozy mystery, perfect for fans of Verity Bright, T.E. Kinsey, and Agatha Christie.
My Thoughts:
Murder in the Bookshop, as the title suggests is a murder mystery set in a bookstore against the backdrop of WWI. The story follows Hannah, the protagonist who manages her aunt’s bookstore and holds her own against men who try to put her down. What intrigued me about her was her tenacity and inquisitiveness. She also had an eye for detail, perhaps developed through her love for books.
When her best friend is found murdered with a knife in her chest, it is all Hannah can do to stay away from the investigation. As she starts to ask questions, she uncovers a plot that goes beyond just the murder in the bookshop with bigger implications to the on-going war itself.
With help from her Aunt Violet, a little crazy but an absolute delight to read about, she embarks on her own little investigation to find the truth. Though the story seemed to drag on a little in some parts, I enjoyed it on the whole. It is a typical cozy mystery, set to intrigue the readers with strong female main characters and a good plot. The story comes together in the end, providing closure and a satisfying conclusion. I recommend this book for fans of cozy mysteries set against a historical backdrop with layers that the readers slowly peel away!
About the Book:
What happens when a handsome but stuffy, old-money bachelor with no people skills spends a night in Las Vegas with a shy marketing exec in the midst of a quarter-life crisis?
A black-eye in the shape of a dildo for starters.
Thomas Moore is known for being a grump with a condescending attitude and no sense of humor. He’s also known for being the golden-boy heir a luxury department store empire and one of the best-looking billionaire bachelors around.
When his family implodes, his top priority becomes reconnecting with his estranged siblings. Which currently entails being best man in his younger brother’s Elvis-themed wedding in Las Vegas, a concept that this modern-day Mr. Darcy loathes.
Recently promoted marketing manager Alice Truman should be celebrating her successful career change. Instead, after a lifetime of foster-care hard knocks, she’s thrust into insta-caregiver mode when her foster sister cuts town, leaving behind her ailing father and five-year-old daughter.
With new bills mounting daily, Alice needs her job more than ever. So when her boss, who’s marrying into the Moore family, invites her to be a bridesmaid in their crazy Sin City wedding, saying no is not an option.
At least everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right?
Not exactly.
When Thomas and Alice wake up after a night of drinking their troubles away in the hotel bar, they find they have a whole new set of ball-and-chain consequences to drag home to New York.
My Thoughts:
Anyone But the Boss is a quick romantic comedy read. This is the second book in the series by the author but can be read as a standalone as I have come to understand. However, there are some references to many of the characters who appear in the story as well as context for the main character that would have made better sense if I’d read the first book.
The story follows Thomas and Alice, two people who come from very different worlds but supposedly have very traumatic or unhappy pasts. The first half of the story focuses on how they meet and then becomes a race to showcase each of their lives. This was a little rushed in my opinion and honestly, some of the humor in the first half did not work for me.
The second half of the story was much better and though the story is predictable, I loved reading about Thomas’s interactions with Alice’s six-year-old niece. As the characters further interact and grow, the story becomes rather sweet and ends on a good note. I have to mention the supporting characters who add so much life to this story and provide an interesting perspective to Thomas’s life. Overall, this is a decent one time read.
Note: I was provided with an eARC thanks to Boldwood Books, NetGalley and the author. The above review is my honest opinion of the book.
About the Book:
Cara and Millsy have broken up… sort of.
After years of being everyone’s favourite couple, always up for a party and having fun wherever they go, things have fizzled out.
But when they realise they have a whole calendar of events and celebrations with friends and family coming up, Cara and Millsy can’t face letting them down.
So they decide to make a pact: just convince everyone they’re as madly in love as ever and get through the festivities without causing suspicion, and then deal with the break up in the new year. How hard can it be…?
Swept up in the festive spirit, will Cara and Millsy fake it til they make it? Or will they realise they are meant to be after all…?
Join top 10 bestseller Portia MacIntosh for the ultimate fake relationship romantic comedy. If you loved The Plus One Pact, you can’t miss this!
My Thoughts:
The Faking Game is a fake dating, second chance romance that follows Cara and Millsy as they try to convince their families that they are still madly in love just until the end of the holiday season. Cara and Millsy reach a stage where the romance seems to have fizzled out and as they try to maintain the facade for their families, things seem to change slowly again.
The story is fast paced and is a wonderful holiday read! At times, I found it quite hard to relate to the main characters. There is a classic case of miscommunication between them many a time and this is something that I did not enjoy. However, as we get to know more about them, it is hard not to root for them and hope for a happy ending with a love stronger than before. Throw in Millsy’s dialogue coach into the mix and we have a potentially messy situation which the main characters just have to make the best of.
Despite some of the short comings of the story, I truly enjoyed this light-hearted read and in the end just felt good after reading it. This is definitely a must read for fans of the tropes mentioned at the start and just anyone looking for a good holiday romance!
Note: The book is out since October 2023. I read an eARC thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley and this review reflects my honest opinion.
About the Book:
Cairo. December 1917.
Following a tip-off from notorious spy Fredrick Fredricks, Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane of British Intelligence find themselves in the hustle and bustle of Egypt. But ancient mummies aren’t the only bodies buried in the tombs of Cairo.
When a young French archeologist is found dead in a tomb in the desert with his head bashed in, and an undercover British agent goes missing, the threat moves closer to home.
As they dig deeper, soon Fiona and Kitty uncover a treasure trove of suspects, including competing excavators, jealous husbands, secret lovers, and belligerent spies! Fiona wonders if the notorious Fredrick Fredricks could be behind the murders? Or is the plot even more sinister?
One thing is clear – If Fiona and Kitty can’t catch the killer, they might end up sharing a sarcophagus with Nefertiti.
With humor as dry as the Arabian desert, and pacing as fast as a spitting camel, Fiona and Kitty are back in another sparkling adventure, this time in WW1 Egypt.
My Thoughts:
I quite enjoy cozy mysteries and ones with strong female protagonists are interesting to read! Covert in Cairo has it all. Set during World War I in Egypt, the author gives us a glimpse into the excavations of the time, some famous archeologists as well as Egypt in the time of the war.
Though I haven’t read any of Fiona’s previous adventures, I really enjoyed this one as she and Kitty embark on a new mystery while trying to uncover a murderer as well as save the world. Another aspect which kept me interested was the character of Fredrick Fredricks. I could not quite figure him out and it was fun to read about him, painted as a villain. The question of is he good or is he bad kept arising and solving that particular conundrum was intriguing.
The story was a little slow in some places and I guess this was deliberate on the side of the author. Overall though I quite enjoyed how the author carried the story forward and introduced us to some very fascinating characters. This was a good read and I am sure that fans of mysteries and historical fiction would enjoy the book.
About the Book:
Some people are just made for each other…When seven-year-old Fran first met Will they knew instantly that they were made for each other. For eleven years they were inseparable, but then, at the age of eighteen, Will just upped and disappeared.
Twenty-five years later Will is back.
Is fate trying to give them a second chance?
Still nursing the heart break from all those years ago, Fran is reluctant to give Will the time of day. The price Will must pay is to tell the truth – the truth about why he left, the truth about why he’s back…
And Fran has her own secrets to hide. The time has come to decide what Fran and Will really want from life – before it’s too late.
My Thoughts:
Before We Grow Old is an inspiring story of two people who find each other twenty five years later and realize that they still feel the same way about each other that they did growing up. Fran and Will were very close from the age of seven, first as friends which then grew into something more. When Will went away leaving just a letter behind, Fran was distraught and in a situation that she never expected to be in. Will on the other hand was dealing with the loss of his mother and a grieving father.
The story follows the two of them as they discover their friendship and love twenty five years later. There is a lot that was left unsaid, secrets that were hidden and feelings to rediscover and understand. This is indeed a story of second chances, learning to forgive, understanding a person’s decision and moving on in ways that make everyone all the more happier. This is also a story of seizing the moment, learning to live life to the fullest and dealing with loss.
I truly enjoyed reading about Fran and Will, their families, and friends. The story is beautifully written and fun in places where everyone comes together to try and complete a bucket list that Fran and Will prepared when they were seventeen. The author handles the concept of death rather delicately and I quite liked the way she handled the whole plot. Though sad in the end, there is something so fulfilling and positive in the way Will handles life and Fran steps up to deal with everything. In the end, the bonds of family tie everyone together and we can each learn something from this story.
I truly enjoyed reading this book and I laughed and cried along with the characters. This is definitely worth reading and I definitely recommend this book to all!
About the Book:
Welcome to The Starfish Café – where you will find stunning views, delicious food and lifelong friendships.
Two broken hearts.
Since she inherited The Starfish Café, Hollie has poured her heart into the business, striving to keep her mother’s traditions and warm-hearted spirit alive. But behind closed doors Hollie is searching for true happiness as she grieves the tragic loss of her family who were once the beating heart of the café…
An unexpected meeting.
Jake lives by two rules: don’t let anyone get close and don’t talk about what happened. Little does he know that a chance meeting at The Starfish Café, facilitated by a fluffy lost dog, is about to turn his world upside down…
The chance to love again.
Can Hollie and Jake break down the barriers that have been holding them back from finding love and happiness, before Christmas comes around? After all, with courage, nothing is impossible…
Join top 10 bestseller Jessica Redland for a magical winter at the seaside, where love blossoms and lifelong friendships are made.
My Thoughts:
A huge thank you to Boldwood Books, netgalley and the author for giving me this opportunity to read this book. The review is my own honest opinion.
Snowflakes Over The Starfish Café is a delightful read full of heartbreak, family, friendship and the promise of love.
The story follows Hollie as she deals with running the Café that her mother owned and the loss of her parents and brother. Christmas is always the worst time of year for her and the story follows her journey as she navigates it this particular year! We also meet Jake, a lovely person who has seen tragedy and faced a lot of bullying in his childhood. It’s thanks to the love and understanding shown by his grandmother that he grows into the wonderful human being that he is. I instantly fell in love with Hollie and Jake individually the moment I met them in the book.
The story follows these two people are they find each other by chance thanks to a small fluffy dog who brings about tremendous changes in their lives. He not only forges a bond between them, he helps bridge the gap and acts as a catalyst to the breaking down of multiple walls. I truly think that the dog is the true hero of this story!
The author has done a wonderful job with the setting and the characters. The place is described really well and to me it felt magical. There is something welcoming about a café by the sea and the warmth of family and familiarity. As for the others, I loved Angie and her daughter Katie. They brought light to the book and stability to Hollie as an extended and accepted family.
Be prepared to deal with a rollercoaster of emotions as the characters’ pasts are revealed and as they start to deal with loss and move towards acceptance. Overall this is a lovely book about two people who find their way back to being themselves and in the process find lasting love.
Book Blurb:
Eleanor Sharpley has been living a lie… Needing to escape her London life quickly, Eleanor throws her things into the back of her car, and heads to her erstwhile best friend Charlie’s family farm. But Charlie isn’t there. Instead she finds Charlie’s grieving brother Daniel, her eight-month old daughter Hope (a daughter Eleanor had known nothing about), and a crumbling and unloved Damson Farm. Damson Farm lies at the edge of the village of Ferrington, with the river Maddon flowing at its heart. But Ferrington is a village divided by more than just a river – it is split in two by an age-old feud – between the Old Side and the New Side. Eleanor has run from her problems, straight into a family and a world that has problems of its own.
But Damson Farm has magic too, and as winter gives way to spring, the old farm starts to come to life under Eleanor’s love and care. The orchard starts to blossom with daffodils and bluebells, and the sound of bees busy in their hives fills the warming air. Can Eleanor bring Daniel and the feuding village of Ferrington back to life too, or will her secrets catch up with her first?
Beth Moran is the author of three previous romance novels, including Making Marion. She regularly features on BBC Radio Nottingham and is a trustee of the national women’s network Free Range Chicks. She lives on the outskirts of Sherwood Forest. Beth’s first novel for Boldwood, Christmas Every Day, was published in September 2019.
We Belong Together is a heart-warming story that is well worth the read! The story follows Eleanor as she escapes to her best friend’s family farm to hide from her demons. At the farm, she encounters situations that she did not expect and in the midst of all the secrets, some mystery (this was unexpected) and the good she tries to do, she finds love!
I loved reading about Eleanor, her secretive past (that is hinted at a lot), he relationships and friendships with people. I also enjoyed reading about Daniel and all the people of the village. The characters are pleasure to read about and are very well thought out. The vivid descriptions by the author make it so easy to imagine the village, it’s surroundings and experience the place along with the chanracters.
This is a light read that can be read anytime but would be best for a lazy summer afternoon. I fell in love with the story and enjoyed it completely. This is the first book by the author that I have read and I am definitely looking forward to reading more!
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book!