I feel like every year, recently, I step into the new tentatively, not fully convinced that what is going to be presented to me is going to be positive, and that is very unlike me.
There is still so much horribleness around the world, and though I try to raise awareness, I feel like I can’t do anything that really helps others.
We have suffered some real losses over this year, including precious people who left this mortal coil, some because of age, some through tragic circumstances, and the losses hit hard.
These losses culminated in my family being shook. Hard. Lil Princess really wobbled, but I am so proud of how she handled such a tough time.
The rest of us? Kinda works in progress, you know, but we’re getting there.
And how can I forget our elders are not getting any younger, and there is a constant worry about how they are faring? Pops has not been well, and that has been a real wake-up call for me. I’ve always appreciated my family, especially my parents, and knowing that immortality isn’t really a thing is hard to face.
Another loss for me was finding out that my publisher is closing. Though they have been brilliant to me, that means another big job: getting the books out there again myself and really focusing on writing more, which you all know is my passion.
I can’t forget that, though the downs have been deep, there have been ups too.
I attended a couple of lovely writerly events, and even spoke at the Meet Cute Festival in June, which was awesome, and got to catch up with some of my great writer friends, at the RNA Summer Fling in August.
Lil Man passed his apprenticeship and is now a company car-wielding Accounts Manager! Eek!
I embraced walking, and joined Slimpod, which really helped me lose the lbs initially! (Unfortunately, family events towards the end of the year overtook my good intentions, but I know I can get back on that horse when I feel emotionally able.)
Lil Princess and I had a gorgeous mother/daughter holiday in Tunisia, which was mind-blowing, and so relaxing!
And, the biggie – I turned 50! And, you know, it’s not a bad place to be, at all, even with all the hurdles we have faced this year.
Now, as you are aware, I have chosen a word to accompany that year over the last few years, as I haven’t set resolutions.
2019 – it was SELF. And I am happy to say I have been pretty good at keeping that self-care up since then, too!
2020 – BELIEVE. Well, let’s all agree that 2020 was a kinda unbelievable year, all in all, with the pandemic and BLM… However, I did believe. And my beliefs meant that 2020 was the year I finally became a published author!
2021 – I chose the word HOPE. I think we all needed hope to pull us through what I found to be a tougher year than 2020 in many ways. I travelled through it, exhausted and worried about everyone and everything around me. But I did keep that hope alive, within.
2022 – my choice was CREATE. I’d like to think that I managed a bit of all that I had hoped to achieve!
2023 – I chose the word STRENGTH. I started with a different thought in my mind, regarding the meaning of that word. Reaching the end of this year, I know I have gained strength, but in ways I never thought I would be tested.
2024 was BALANCE. I was determined to being more balance to my life in all aspects.
2025 was CHANGE. There were a few key things I wanted to change about how I lived, to help me.
So, last year I centred my Word Of The Year aspirations on these three things.
Change my priorities to ensure I am near the top
I really did do this, even though it may not seem it to everyone, but I knew that this year, I didn’t have it in me to look after myself, and my family, and be the creative person I wanted to be. So, instead, I forgave myself for not being able to do absolutely everything, and I filled my creative well with reading, and listening to audiobooks, and acquainting myself with nature all around me.
Change my lifestyle to suit the ever-changing needs of my health
The fibromyalgia (I like to call him Fibro Frank) kicks in more often. Perimenopause tries to kick my ass. But I have learned that what I put into my body, nutrition-wise, will affect how I feel, positively, as well as negatively. I am taking a few more supplements to help with age, pain and sleeplessness. When I can, I go for long walks to recharge my sometimes depleted body and mind, and equally, when I am done, I don’t force myself, and I’ve lost the guilt at not doing things if I can’t do them. Nothing is that urgent. And if it is, I know it will be done.
Think about a big Change I hope to make with my work life in the next couple of years.
Still thinking about this one, but more practically. Maybe I will step back a bit. Maybe I won’t. But I have a daughter who is taking her A-Levels this year, and many of her decisions will impact mine, too, so I will be mindful about it all. The change I hope to make, will give me more time and headspace to write, too, fingers crossed!
So, which word do I add to my list for 2026?
Because 2025 gave me quite a battering, this word came quite easily.
Heal
Heal my soul from all the upheaval of the last year, and prepare me for what is coming
Heal my body, and make me feel fitter and healthier, ready for the future
Heal my mojo, and get back out there in the writing world, renewed and refreshed, with both my old stories and hopefully the start of something new.
And with this post, off I go to start that new year, filled with Self, Belief, Hope, Creation, Strength, Balance, Change and HEALING!
It’s been a strange month. Yes, school was crazy in those last few weeks, with festive fun happening, winding the children up. But my heart wasn’t as into it as it usually is. There was a big gap where my Brother-in-Law had sat, and his memory was everywhere. It was tough for us all.
Coupled with the fact that Pops has been unwell and needed an operation in the lead-up to Christmas, it’s all been a bit much. (He’s okay, thank goodness, and I got to spend a few days with my parents alone, which was an early present for me.)
But to top it off, I found out that my excellent publishers are closing in the new year! So that means I need to start thinking about how to relaunch my Rishtay Series, again. Do I look for a total rebranding with new covers, too, or just a tweak inside, and republish?
And I guess that means that I need to get writing again…
So I read and listened as best I could.
And as the year ends, I finished on over 167 (I think – though Goodreads thinks it’s 170!) books read or listened to, and books really were my saviour this year.
Book 4 in the Walsh Family saga, and this time, we are learning more about Anna Walsh, the fourth sister in the family. I guess there should be trigger warnings for this one, because although Keyes’s trademark humour is threaded through, we are looking at death, loss, and grieving in this story. Anna lives in New York with her husband, Aiden, and she finds herself back with her family after a horrific accident, but all she really wants is to get home to her hubby and the city she has come to call home. Through the story, she is searching for her husband, who appears to have disappeared, until the penny drops… This really highlighted how the brain works in times of grief, and how Anna’s mind shut off certain things to allow her to heal physically, before letting her return to reality, and navigate a loss she had forgotten. Anna’s tribulations with trying to contact Aiden were hilarious at times and heart-wrenching at others. I loved the little email asides from Mammy Walsh and Helen, the youngest sister, as their little side stories played out!
I have really enjoyed the Nell Ward series in its entirety, and was thrilled to read this seventh book. It may be read as a standalone, but I think the reader’s enjoyment will be further enhanced if they have read the previous ones, as there are many instances in the book where the past is mentioned. Certain relationships make more sense with that background. After being in Ireland for one story, this one takes us to India for the first part of the story as our favourite ecologist turned detective, Nell, finally ties the knot with the dashing Rav Kashyap, her partner at work, as well as romantically, and somehow he’s become her partner in uncovering crime too. Amid the celebrations, there is a death, which sparks a train of activity that leads to more death and mysterious activity once most of the wedding party reaches Finchmere, Nell’s family estate. This one held a special place in my heart for its connections to India and certain aspects that really hammer home the effects of colonialism, but the rest of the story was as gripping as always, and it is amazing how Nell’s ecological knowledge is used to uncover the culprit this time, too. Can’t wait for another instalment! Many thanks to NetGalley and Embla Books for an ARC.
I loved this Thelma and Louise style adventure for our Golden Girls, Sadie and Bronagh, two sisters-in-law, who take off in a nephew’s canary yellow Ferrari, and leave Ireland for an impromptu trip to Devon! They really showed that age ain’t nothing but a number for having fun, and along the way they helped so many people and learned new things about themselves, too. The Irish contingency who end up in the sleepy village in Devon add another layer of fun, though it was sometimes, a bit crazy keeping up with what was happening where. Still, I enjoyed it thoroughly, and intend to be a Bronagh, living it up, being silly and truly enjoying the Golden years when they beckon, with the slight caution exercised by Sadie!
It’s always great to revisit old characters, and the Saga Louts have definitely found a soft spot in my reading heart! I’m increasingly likely to head for a book with more mature main characters because, well, they have so much substance, don’t they? This was a book with two dominant stories linked. The first centres on Beryl, one of the original Saga Louts. She’s an older lady and can be pretty demanding, but she has a deep sadness, and many gaps in the story of her son, who died far too young. Then there is the appearance of Vee, now in her fifties, but with a connection to Beryl’s son, and her own demons to face and overcome. Many loose ends are tied up in this fantastic adventure, as well as quite a few new romances started, and even though Eva Glyn says it’s possibly the last in the series, I can’t quite see those Saga Louts letting her go that easily! Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
This is a January Blog Tour read for me, so come back to check the reviews!
The Italian Village in the Hills is an emotive story from the very talented Victoria Springfield, an author who makes me want to head off to Italy whenever I read her books! This story follows three families: two from the small village near Liguria in Italy with a chequered past linking them both together, and one from the UK, where a young lady, Amy, finds the courage to follow in the footsteps of her late grandfather, as she tries to trace the origins of a couple of intriguing objects he leaves behind. Stella finds herself back in her home village after many years of avoiding visiting, filled with shame from past misdeeds, Somehow, their paths cross, and, slowly as the story unfolds, discoveries are made, guilt assuaged, and links are forged. First loves, last loves, new loves, friendships repaired, and secrets laid to rest. A beautiful story. Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
I always know I am going to be in for an emotional ride when I read an Amanda Prowse book, and feel many relatable things as I follow the story, and this gorgeous book was no different. One decision made at the tender age of ten sets in motion a particular trajectory of events in the lives of twins Remy and Ashleigh, and the book follows their story from that age to much later in life. There’s something to be said for the connection between twins, and this is explored so well: both women live very different lives, yet that decision all those years ago weighs so heavily on both of them. Parental pressures and expectations, dreams of the future, loves and family; we see them all develop, falter, finish, and continue. It’s hard to describe what I found relatable, but I felt extremely teary-eyed reading certain sections, and I raced through the book, hoping for a satisfying ending, which I got in spades. Get your tissues out! Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for an ARC.
I’ve always loved Sandy Barker’s stories, and was very excited to read this new story. Ally is the ‘Divorced Diva’. Having been through the D-word three times, she is now an expert in all things related to moving on and coping without that messy man you’ve left behind. After all, she has managed to come out three times, unscathed! Then a call to action comes, and it is from one of her ex-husbands, Julian (#3), and the chance to partner with him on his exclusive island resort, with her becoming the influencer to support the promotion. The only thing is that once she arrives, she finds that another one of her exes, Tommy (#1), is also there, causing a flare-up of emotions and unresolved emotions that she really should not be having, as it is not brand-appropriate. I loved the descriptions of the locations, the food and drink, and all the scene setting. I think I want to visit, now too! And the story has not only shed loads of ‘will they-won’t they?’ moments, but also spicy sparks and a little mystery thrown in, which was a pleasant surprise. Another cracker from Sandy! Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
TW: Depression, Mental Health and Suicidal Thoughts Book 5 in the Walsh Family series, and it was great dipping back into the family, finding out what madcap things were occurring. This time, the focus is on Helen, the youngest sister. She is a PI operating on her own and is commandeered to work a very high-profile case by someone she really didn’t want to deal with. It involves the disappearance of a celebrity, Wayne Diffnety, at a crucial point of the return tour of his band, Laddz. While there are the usual madcap situations, Marian Keyes has also delved into mental health and depression, showing something about the workings of a mind that may be addled with a darkness that they are trying to live with, and thoughts of suicide. I enjoyed listening to this story, as it has its crazy moments as well more serious aspects that are handled well.
Book 5.5 in the Walsh family series kept me company on a long drive today, and I listened to it in one sitting as it is a brief reminder/teaser of the rest of the series! Mammy Walsh is quite a character, and this little A-Z really delves into her wonderful world! I loved her take on some incidents, words and phrases we have heard much of in the main books, like ‘feathery strokers’ and the ‘jolly boys’, but there are some other classics, off on a tangent things like her thoughts on ‘vajazzling’, that had me laughing out loud as I drove. I am sure other drivers may have thought I was slightly loopy as a result! Her total non-PC persona was hilarious and refreshing, too, as it humorously reflects her generation and age.
A delightfully whimsical tale, with a character-driven plot, and a subtle, slow-burning romance that suddenly ups the spice levels! Into the Midnight Wood is a story about two men, housemates in the Midnight Cottage, which sits at the edge of the Midnight Wood. The Midnight Wood is an enchanted wood, and Meredith, one of our main characters, has a real affinity with all the mysterious folk who live in there. David, whose point of view the story is told from, is the long-suffering man who shares the house with this man-child who has wormed his way into David’s being, and not in a comfortable way. It took me a while to get into it, I will admit, but I am glad I stuck with it, as there was a real story behind Meri and his whimsy. Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books for an ARC.
A January blog tour review coming for this quirky read by Dean Koontz
I have thoroughly enjoyed the Walsh series, and hearing Marian Keyes herself narrating the story was another treat. My Favourite Mistake follows Anna as she goes from being in a tentative relationship after losing her husband, Aidan, to finding herself alone again, without the support of her best friend Jackie, unfulfilled, perimenopausal, and back in Ireland. She ends up using her PR skills differently, supporting another friend with their new retreat, which the locals are not too pleased with, but she has to work with a blast from the past, Narky Joey, who is the reason she lost touch with her best friend. There is so much in this story to relate to, and love, with the Walsh clan turning up, as always, to cause their mischief, but also dealing with mental health, and of course, that biggie, Perimenopause. I was pleased with the ending, I have to say, and loved each chapter!
Another lovely book, which I will be on the blog tour for soon. 🙂
Oh, Gillian, you’ve done it again! Now, not only do I want to go and live in France, but I fancy a change of career to hospitality! Bella is living in a small village in France with her husband, living the dream. Or rather, her dream. She has, from a young age, wanted to run a B&B in France, after what was to her an idyllic school trip there, cementing her hopes for the future. And she has achieved that with her husband. But things are never as simple as that, are they? It’s not for him, after eight years, and he wants a clean break, if she isn’t prepared to up sticks and head back ‘home’ to the UK. What follows is Bella trying to live part of her dream and reinventing herself several times, unintentionally, as she moves to Versailles and gets herself a job in a Paris boutique hotel, under somewhat cloudy circumstances. (I won’t say false, as I am sure there are plenty out there who have slightly elaborated CVs to get interviews and jobs!) The characters she meets along the way, including the students she ends up house sharing with, and the elusive landlord, as well as her new boss, and a rather scary cantankerous old woman who lives at the hotel where she secures a job, all make for a fantastic supporting cast, to this story of second chances, and learning more about oneself in times of pressure. Oh, and of course there is romance, but it’s not always about the handsome French dude…! Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
So, that was 15 books over the last month. Which one caught your eye?
Thrilled to be on the blog Tour for Judy Leigh’s lovely book, Golden Girls On The Run!
The Blurb
Age is just a number. Trouble is a lifestyle.
When octogenarian sisters-in-law Sadie and Bronagh find themselves at the centre of a scandalous (and slightly explosive) bake-off fiasco, there’s only one thing to do – steal Sadie’s grandson’s gleaming red Ferrari and make a run for it.
Sadie is the practical one, all cardigans and contingency plans. Bronagh treats rules as loose suggestions – especially if mischief or wine is involved.
What begins as a quick getaway across Ireland soon spirals into a wild, cross-country adventure filled with fake identities, unexpected friendships, and more than a few brushes with the law.
Sadie and Bronagh may be on the run, but what they find at the journey’s end might just be what they were missing all along…
I loved this Thelma and Louise style adventure for our Golden Girls, Sadie and Bronagh, two sisters-in-law, who take off in a nephew’s canary yellow Ferrari, and leave Ireland for an impromptu trip to Devon! They really showed that age ain’t nothing but a number for having fun, and along the way they helped so many people and learned new things about themselves, too. The Irish contingency who end up in the sleepy village in Devon add another layer of fun, though it was sometimes, a bit crazy keeping up with what was happening where. Still, I enjoyed it thoroughly, and intend to be a Bronagh, living it up, being silly and truly enjoying the Golden years when they beckon, with the slight caution exercised by Sadie!
Judy Leigh is the bestselling author of Five French Hens, A Grand Old Time and The Age of Misadventure and the doyenne of the ‘it’s never too late’ genre of women’s fiction. She has lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently resides in Somerset.
Very happy to be a part of the book tour for my friend, Kim Nash, and her newest release, Life Begins At The Cornish Cottage.
The Blurb
When life gives you heartbreak , sometimes it also gives you a second chance…
When Tom Sullivan returns to the quiet village of Sandpiper Shore, Emma can hardly believe her eyes. She hasn’t seen him since they played Romeo and Juliet in their school play – a lifetime ago, before real heartbreak, and long before she ever imagined life as a widow.
The last thing she wants is to relive the past, especially with someone who once made her teenage heart flutter. But when Emma agrees to put on a charity pantomime to raise money for the air ambulance service that helped her late husband, she’s thrown firmly back into Tom’s path.
As rehearsals begin and the local community rallies around her, Emma finds unexpected joy in bringing people together – and a surprising connection with Tom that feels far too real to ignore. Maybe it’s time for Emma to become the leading lady in her own life, not just for the show, but for herself.
Full of warmth, humour and heart, this is a story about letting go and discovering that it’s never too late to take a chance on love.
If you want a good read with a more mature set of MCs, then Kim Nash is definitely one author to turn to. I’ve loved the small communities she has created through her fiction, and the Cornish Cottage series, featuring three women who become close later in life, is a beautiful setup. This time the focus is on Emma, a relatively recently widowed woman, who is settling into life in her new home after losing her husband Ben. A blast from the past walks into her life, causing many feelings, from embarrassment and anger, to confusion. Then she is somehow railroaded into taking over the local Christmas panto production, on top of running her Lonely Hearts group, where she is forced to confront those feelings, as well as come to terms with her own past. Emma and Tom’s story comes full circle, and this is a beautiful, festive story filled with hope and second chances. Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
About The Author
Kim Nash is an author of uplifting, romantic, feel-good fiction, having wanted to write books since she was a little girl. She works as both Digital Publicity Director for publisher Bookouture. She lives in Staffordshire with her son Ollie and English Setter rescue dog Roni. When she’s not working or writing, Kim can be found walking her dog and reading, as well as running a book club in Staffordshire and organising local and national reader/author events.
It is blog tour time for another book! This post is dedicated to A Lot To Unpack by Portia Macintpsh
The Blurb
It’s going to be a bumpy ride… 👀
Liberty’s just landed her dream job. The catch? It’s at Matcher, the dating app that ruined her life. After catching her boyfriend sending intimate pictures to everyone in a twenty mile radius, Liberty is struggling to get back into the dating game. Every man gives her the ick sooner or later.
Still, she’s having a great time travelling the world for work, until she’s assigned a secret mission: Travel to New York with her handsome and charming boss Jordan and swap out a contract from under his nose. It should be easy, but the more time Liberty spends with Jordan, the more she realises he might not be the bad boy she thought he was. But it turns out they’ve both got a lot to unpack, and Liberty still needs to complete her mission if she wants to keep her job – which means not breaking the one golden rule: do not fall for the boss!
I do love Portia MacIntosh’s light-hearted rom coms, and was thrilled to read this one, A Lot To Unpack. Liberty finds her partner, Ben, has been sending inappropriate pics of himself to others, via a dating app, Matcher. After a rather dramatic relationship end, she finds herself with no boyfriend, no job and no home. An opportunity arises, though it seems too good to be true. Plus, it is working for Matcher, the app that ruined her life! I thoroughly enjoyed Liberty’s antics as she tries to ingratiate herself into the dating world with a LOT of caution, and the situation she finds herself in, during the last third of the story, is just brilliant! There is lust, kind of proximity, not quite enemy to lovers, but hot boss syndrome going on! And the ending was just fab! Came through in the end! Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC. Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/ALottoUnpack
About the Author
Portia MacIntosh is the bestselling author of over 30 romantic comedy novels.
From disastrous dates to destination weddings, Portia’s romcoms are the perfect way to escape from day to day life, visiting sunny beaches in the summer and snowy villages at Christmas time. Whether it’s southern Italy or the Yorkshire coast, Portia’s stories are the holiday you’re craving, conveniently packed in between the pages.
Formerly a journalist, Portia has left the city, swapping the music biz for the moors, to live the (not so) quiet life with her husband and her dog in Yorkshire.
But I Smile Anyway... 