But I Smile Anyway…

October – well, it’s definitely autumn, as the nights are drawing in earlier and the mornings darker. Perfect weather for snuggling up with a book, isn’t that right?

I am on the first half-term break of the academic year, and I can honestly say I am SHATTERED! Fewer children, but more that need us on our toes constantly, definitely make me feel my age! (I am also toying with the chance of this being either Fibromyalgia related, or possibly a lack of Vitamin B12, so the Dr is on the case as I am far too tired!)

We had the first anniversary of losing my brother-in-law right at the beginning of the month, which was emotional, as you can imagine, for all the family in different ways. And once term finished, I made sure I spent the first few days back home with my darling parents and Lil Princess decided to join us, too!

Did I write? No… however I did have a wonderful experience at the end of the month, where I visited the gorgeous bookshop of fellow author Kim Nash, and we had a great natter, she met Pops, Mum and Lil Princess, then one of my dreams came true. My three books are sitting on a real life bookstore shelf! Please share in my joy and have a look at my little reel!

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So I read and listened as best I could. And I didn’t do too badly, even if I do say so myself! A few festive reads too, to get prepared for the Christmas season that will be upon us before we even know!

Architecti by Ruby Roe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Will I ever learn my lesson? Nope, obviously not. Listen to a Ruby Roe in the car, then frantically try to pause it when you remember who is in the passenger seat next to you! 🤦🏾‍♀️
But seriously, I think this was my favourite Ruby Roe spicy sapphic fiction so far.
Dark Academia meets Gothic Fantasy brilliantly, with a lot of sapphic smut on the side.
We have angels and demons, mortals and reapers, an academy where a professor finds herself in a relationship with a student, but they are so wrong for each other – as well as being so right.
The storyline hooked me completely, and I wasn’t as aware of the naughty bits because I was so mesmerised by what was happening to the characters.
The ending was a little devastating, but knowing I have another in the series to listen to gave me the strength to carry on.

The Winter Guest by Karen Swan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another beautiful story from Karen Swan.
This dual timeline follows Lise Erlach, a young woman married to a diplomat in the 60s, living in Paris, and her journey, which is peppered with secrecy and that of her granddaughter, Dulcie, in the present, as she sits by her frail grandmother, awaiting the day they all know is coming.
An unexpected visitor for her grandmother, another elderly man who knew her from the Paris days, keeps dropping cryptic hints of a secret he wishes to divulge to Lise only; however, the woman in question is rarely lucid enough to have a conversation.
Flashbacks begin to fill the gaps in a complex puzzle Dulcie starts to piece together, ultimately with the help of Alé, a Spanish artist she meets under unexpected circumstances.
This book is filled with mystery, espionage, and forbidden love, making it a beautifully tragic page-turner.

A New Start at the Happily Ever After Bookshop by Emma Bennet
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I LOVED my first visit to Castle Cove on the Cornish coast.
Carrie is a single mother trying to provide for her delightful daughter, Poppy, and hoping for some support from the father, who lets them down at every turn. His disappointment pushes her to take her aunt up on a job at her gorgeous bookshop in Castle Cove over the summer, while her aunt is away.
Let’s be honest, a summer in Cornwall is always going to beat London, and what an experience for her little girl, too!
Carrie has so many memories from her own childhood holidays there that she wants her own child to experience, and that is exactly what she does.
What she doesn’t expect is the connection she feels with Michael, the bookshop’s neighbour, and his teenage daughter, Layla.
There are some wonderful scenes involving pets, especially Monty, Michael’s inherited mongrel, running off with Carrie’s bra at the beach, and a haughty cat, also inherited, who adds more drama!
I loved every aspect of this book, including the original characters from the cove we get to meet, and knowing there are more stories to come, I knew I’d get to know more of them soon enough!

Christmas at the First Sip Coffee Shop: A feel-good, small town, festive romance by Emma Bennet
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was so glad I could jump straight into this second book after reading the first in the series, as all the characters were familiar to me, and I read it in an afternoon, cosy on my sofa, thinking of Christmas!
This book focuses on Lucy, the owner of the First Sip Coffee Shop, located right next to the bookshop featured in the first book.
We get into the nitty-gritty of the romantic twist pretty fast, as Lucy finds herself in a situation with Dylan, best friend of her best friend’s husband, right at the start of the story.
I loved how it all came together in this enemies-to-friends-to-lovers story, where things go a little back to front, but as we get to know the characters, we also get to experience some wonderful festive moments as Lucy helps Dylan enjoy Christmas, since he has never had a chance to before.
This can be read as a standalone; however, I had picked up on some angst/chemistry between Lucy and Dylan in the first book, so the story felt even more complete for me!

A New Dawn at Brightwater Falls by Kim Nash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It is always a pleasure to read a Kim Nash book as her stories are filled with characters who you come to care for, and want to know what is going to happen to them.
A New Dawn at Brightwater Falls introduces us to a new set of characters, namely three sisters; Imo, Ally and Kate, as well as Dandy, their Godmother and surrogate mother, when their own passed away.
Set in Brightwater Falls, the resort was a labour of love for Dandy and the girls’ mother, and now, she needs the girls to help her, after a nasty fall and injury.
The story centres around Imo, the youngest of the sisters. Younger by quite a stretch, she spent the longest time with Dandy, especially when her mother passed away, and is the only single one of the three.
She has a brilliant career, but feels no sort of approval from her sisters, especially Ally, the older one, who seems to think she is above the others, and Kate appears to be the one who sides with the strongest.
Well, that is how the scene is set at the beginning, but through the story, we get to learn more about all three women, and see Imo finally follow her heart in all aspects.
There is the expected sisterly angst, as well as a gentle romance, and learning more about the other two sisters makes me wonder whether we will be visiting Brightwater Falls again, soon, with a slightly different POV?

ReTreat Yourself by Jo Lyons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A cute, funny story based around sibling rivalry, a sudden flit, mindfulness, mistaken identity, and life coaching!
Nell disappears on her birthday, away from her family and younger sister and arch rival, Ava, when she finds herself losing out to a promotion to her sister and out of a job, too.
She ends up in Spain, and plenty of hilarity ensues as she tries to build a new life for herself on a web of lies.
I had to giggle when she ends up at a retreat that is less relaxation and more self-flagellation. But she meets someone who gives her all the feels; just the situations she finds herself in don’t always paint her in the best light.
She starts a new career as a life coach after a (very brief) online course and finds herself in charge of a business when her boss has to disappear. Then that guy turns up. And her sister, not long after.
This was an easy read with a little spice and a lot of laughs.

Interitus: A Dark Gothic Romantasy by Ruby Roe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am so glad that this was available to read as soon as I finished Architecti, because that was one heck of a cliffhanger we were left with!
Still gothic, still fantasy, still spicy, but with added demon and angel energy!
This story continues, but instead of focusing only on Midnight and Lucy, we get to know a lot more about Architecti and her twin, Interitus.
The story is addictive, and I just had to know how it ends.
Of course there was smut. It wouldn’t be Ruby Roe’s book without it, but the whole plot was brilliantly executed.

The Twenty Dates: Warm, endorsing and authentic – about marriage, mid-life and the quiet re-evaluation when the kids leave home. by Ko Porteous
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the first book in the Empty Nester series, so I dove into this with anticipation, and I wasn’t disappointed.
A couple celebrating their 19th anniversary finds itself in a rut. A husband who is very busy with work and appears to take his wife and life for granted. A wife who has recently experienced two significant losses: her son disappearing to university and leaving her stable job.
An inopportune anniversary present sparks the thought that they are no longer in this marriage for the reasons they were, and so comes the idea to live apart and have 20 special dates to mark the next significant anniversary, to see if they can salvage their marriage.
Claire and Mark are such believable and likeable characters, and I challenge most folks of a certain age to say they have never felt taken for granted, and that life is just as it is.
The story sees them face challenges, overcome misunderstandings and begin to rediscover the reasons they are together, but not without plenty of will they won’t they moments, too!

All I Want for Christmas Is Hugh by Julia Boggio
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I will admit to this being my first Julia Boggia book, though her previous novels are on my TBR.
Early autumn, and reading about Christmas, with a Hugh Grant twist, gave me British Hallmark vibes!
Henrietta, or Hen, is on the lookout for a real British gentleman to romance her and sweep her off her feet, hopefully with the looks and demeanour of the aforementioned Hugh Grant – partly because of a promise made at a critical time.
Hen has an invisible disability, FND, something I hadn’t ever heard of, so this was a mini education in itself. She likes to work from a specific cafe, where she has her ‘people’ who know her, and her condition, and they all want the best for her.
She is an American photographer living in London and tasked with getting a good headshot of a rather grumpy American author, Graff. He’s moody, gruff, but hot. If only things weren’t so complicated in the world of Hen.
When a ‘perfect’ Lord, Albert, walks into the cafe she frequents, the idea of him really does sweep her off her feet, she is confused, but follows her brain, when he shows interest in her, though her heart may be thinking something else…
Okay, so there are the Hallmark vibes here, and though I can confess to not being a big Hugh Grant fan, I can appreciate that for a huge period (namely the 90s), he was that quintessential English hero in all the major movies, so this is a cute/comical addition to the story, especially as Hugh, in different character forms, manages to encroach upon the story regularly.
A cute, funny read with British heart and American soul.

Together For Christmas: The new festive holiday romance from the bestselling author, the perfect feel-good read to curl up with this winter! by Emma Heatherington
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another beautiful, heartwarming Christmas story from Emma Heatherington.
I loved this story about two people, both in their mid-30s, and how their connection built.
Cara is reeling from her engagement being broken, with no warning. Her family rallies round to support her, and help her put that part of her life to one side. Her work involves inviting influencers to a venue, to give them experiences which will create good content and promotion for the castle.
Declan is a single father to Callum, but with a tight blended family situation including Callum’s mother and her husband. Father and son run a successful social media account, after going viral.
Cara has sworn off men, and Declan is on a year-long flirting/dating ban, not due to end until Christmas Eve.
Well, I am sure you can guess what happens… chemistry, and plenty to stop them, including the pledge of no dating, but you have Christmas fun, and what I really loved was how it went full circle in how and where they reunite. I don’t want to give much away, but it was a very satisfying ending.

The Christmas Cookie Bookshop by Anita Faulkner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was really looking forward to reading this, having enjoyed Anita Faulkner’s previous novels, and I wasn’t disappointed at all.
Set in the fictitious town of Hazel Blooms in the Cotswolds, the story centres around Noemi, the owner of a quaint bookshop among a host of other beautiful independent shops. Life is getting hard, financially, and with trying to finance her mother’s residential home costs, as well as running a business, she fears she has failed.
Noemi fears change. Or rather, something happened which made her far too cautious about change because of a tragic accident which affected her and her best friend.
But something has to give. She needs to find a new USP for her shop and get customers back in.
Her talent for baking phenomenal cookies could support the business, but even that is tied to emotional memories.
All it takes is a whirlwind of an Irish man, Shay, to whoosh into her life and that of all the locals, with his devil-may-care attitude and his new business that threatens to topple any interest in hers.
Only there is a little chemistry bubbling under all the rivalry.
I was totally invested in this slow-burn, beautifully festive, cookie-craving-inducing story!

Dina Gets Lucky: A Novel by Uzma Jalaluddin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have wanted to read a book by this author for a while, so I was pleased to receive this ARC
We meet the main characters in a prologue scene, when Dina, Lucky, and Arshad are still in college, and it sets the stage for what we know will be a rocky road.
When we are brought to the main story, hotshot lawyer Dina is due to be a huge part of her influencer sister Hania’s wedding, and nothing can go wrong – except she is hiding a huge secret from the whole family for fear of how it might look or affect her sister’s special day: she and Arshad are divorced.
Through the wedding, she comes into contact with Lucky again, their old college friend, and someone Dina liked a lot at college. Crossed wires, and some of those aforementioned lies surface as the story progresses.
Lucky is a guy from a simple family – he’s done well for himself, but his trade is still not what is considered ‘worthy’ by some: a contractor, whereas Dina is working in her family business with her ex-husband, who is bandied about as the perfect partner.
I loved all the over-the-top pre-wedding and wedding scenes, and I could feel the tension as Dina fights to keep an enormous secret from everyone while wrestling with her feelings for someone else.

Just for the Plot by Meghan Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed the second book in this series, though I totally forgot that I had said I would be prepared for the spice the next time round. I was NOT, lol! And that is my fault. I had a few quick pause moments when listening in the car when I had a passenger with me! 🫣
This book centres around Bennett, a baseball golden boy, who has also been selected as one of three sportsmen, as poster boys for their teams to build positive publicity, so he is volunteering at the zoo, with his two compadres, cutely named the Gladdy Daddies in the previous book, as his guiding lights for his own romantic problem.
Namely, he has a HUGE crush on someone he has known for many years: his sister’s best friend, Bower. Not only is she older than him, but she is also out of bounds because of being so close to Bennett’s sister.
What follows is a chance move on Bower’s behalf to live closer to where Bennett is, and that is where chemistry begins to occur, but not without its hurdles.
Again with the SPICE! 🥵🌶️🥵🌶️🥵🌶️ As things heat up, my, is there some naughtiness going on, as well as crossed wires, angry sisters and a book wagon! Cannot forget that book wagon!
This is a real friends-to-lovers, forbidden romance ride!

I am on the blog tour for this wonderful 5-star read in November, so make sure you pop over to see the full review!

I beta-read this for an author friend this month, and it will be out in January. A story based around a woman who finds herself in a wheelchair after a tragic accident. There is sadness, and hope, and a story that leaves hope intact for anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation.

Strictly Pleasure by Carrie Elks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this second book in the Salinger Brothers series, this time centred on Liam, the second-eldest brother, and Sophie, the best friend of one of the MCs in the first book.
Liam has a rep for being a bit of a playboy, and only ever spending one night with any woman.
He’s gorgeous and has plenty of these women ready to spend that one night with him.
Sophie is a meteorologist on the weather team at the local TV station.
Somehow, they wake up together after a wedding, and that one-night thing kicks in.
But both of them strain to fight a deeper attraction and chemistry that is bubbling over.
I loved how protective Liam was of Sophie, and how they both tried so hard to deny any spark, even though it was SOOO obvious!
Of course, a little while into the book, the inevitable spice kicks in, and it doesn’t disappoint, either!
Though this is part of a series, you can read it as a standalone. However, it’s even more enjoyable with some of the backstory.

Nightingale Hall: An atmospheric dual-timeline historical mystery from Rachel Burton by Rachel Burton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have always enjoyed Rachel Burton’s stories, and Nightingale Hall was a wonderfully nuanced, atmospheric novel that I absolutely loved.
A mystery painting, an artist who seems to have disappeared, and a deep, unknown connection keep the pages turning.
Rosie is grieving the loss of her darling grandmother, someone who brought her up after her flighty mother kept disappearing and reappearing every few years. The women in the family were strong and independent, and though there were men in their lives, none filled the father-figure gap.
A postcard featuring a print of a hauntingly familiar painting and building, found by Rosie while she tries to clear out her grandma’s flat, becomes the catalyst that brings many hushed secrets to the surface, giving Rosie answers to questions she didn’t know she wanted answered.
The story uses a dual timeline: Rosie’s POV in the present, and her grandmother’s from the 50s, which continues and morphs into her mother’s as time goes on.
The supporting cast was also brilliant, with brief connections to Rosie, her mother, or her grandmother that moved the story along, and a little love interest for Rosie added that romantic touch.
I loved this entire premise, and though it is not always pleasant to not know everything about your past, the way Burton unravels and reveals little tidbits within the story, using both the past and the present, I felt Rosie was given a chance to process all the truths in a way that she didn’t find them too much. The women were the stars in this story: strong women with independent souls and minds.

So I read/ listened to 17 books this month, not bad for a busy school month,with a week of hols at the end! Which ones caught your eye?

September came, and so did the new school year. And year 51 for me, too! My birthday was a lovely time, with lots of love from family, friends and colleagues, and we had a lovely meal out at a restaurant, Coco Asia, a fusion place. (Not-so) Lil Man was thrilled that he was able to arrange this meal as it was a place he frequents regularly with clients, and he does love being a bit of a big shot, lol!

Lil Princess has started a job, too, which is pretty big for her, as well as continuing to take her driving lessons. The countdown is on for when my Mum Taxi duties are almost redundant!

School – well, what can I say? I must admit to feeling my post-half-century age when working with the little ones. They are gorgeous in many ways, but such hard work, and I know I reiterate this every year, but it is flabbergasting how many parents send their children to preschool/school with not many of the skills they should be taught at home. We have twins who are such funny characters – they are identical, and constantly on the go, but they are also not toilet trained fully, plus when one goes, the other does – synchronised! I have never seen anything like it! One is getting the hang of it, and kind of indicates she needs to go. As we rush her to the loo, we have to get the other one, as she hasn’t a clue and will just wet herself, or plonk herself on the toilet without pulling down her pants! And they aren’t the only ones! Some behaviours aren’t fantastic, and we can see where parents may have been giving in to keep the peace rather than setting boundaries, so that’s another nut to crack! But, all in all, it’s not bad. We aren’t full, either, so imagine what it would be like with a full cohort!

As a result, I have been exhausted every night. It is unbelievable: the tiredness from work mixed in with Perimenopausal symptoms, and fibromyalgia flare-ups, as well as this wonderful plantar fasciitis I have in my heel. I haven’t walked as much as I had hoped, but I have to listen to my body, and walk when I feel able.

Did I write? Around 100 words… but that is something, eh!

So I read and listened as best I could. And I didn’t do too badly

The Earl’s Inconvenient Nemesis by Emma Bennet
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you love a bit of Bridgerton, then this may be right up your street!
Alice, our MC, is a young lady who finds she needs to marry, whether she wants to or not, for her family’s sake.
She heads off from the one place she feels most secure, her countryside home, surrounded by nature and her horses, to London, to live with her aunt for a season, to procure herself the proposal that she hopes will secure everyone’s future.
The thing is, it is not proper for her to be unescorted, and as her brother is now head of the family and busy dealing with estate issues, his rather annoying Earl of a best friend, Anthony, volunteers to step into the chaperone’s shoes, much to Alice’s disdain.
You can feel the chemistry and attraction, but it is fun to read how they keep avoiding the elephant in the room. And then, as you learn more about Anthony’s situation, another layer of confusion kicks in, and as a reader, you wonder how the couple you know should be together, get their happy ending, as well as honouring the predicament he is in, too.
I loved this easy-to-read enemies-to-lovers story, with a bit of proximity thrown in. Regency-era books always capture my attention!

Fabulous and Furious: Don’t miss this hilarious and relatable new novel from Harper Ford about middle-age RAGE! by Harper Ford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh, my, when a book resonates, it REALLY resonates, and this was one of them!
A brilliant read for those perimenopausal, menopausal, and possibly post-menopausal women out there!
Nell is a woman of a certain age, in her fifties, divorced, and grandmother to young Freddie. Somehow she has the inability to control her rage and blows up at the slightest inclination, so her daughter subtly buys her a package at the local Rage Room – a place where a person can smash the whole room to smithereens while letting some of that anger out.
She has pent-up PTSD from an incident when she was much younger, anger at how her husband treated her, frustration with her new boss, Adrian, and even though she tries to control it, sometimes it’s like a match brought too close, and she blows. Often in inappropriate situations, but also when she’s had enough and simply cannot keep her frustrations in.
Whether it is rage or a chance to vent, Nell discovers the satisfaction in ranting, too, and brings on board a few different females to share her newfound therapy!
The book deals with so much, from misogyny to how invisible women of this age feel, and I could totally relate.
Now, where’s my nearest Rage/Rant room?

Breaking Free by Neha Nayak
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The blurb made Noya’s story sound good.
A young Indian woman travels around India alone to forget her woes after a broken engagement, and she encounters a guy who keeps popping up to either antagonise or help her.
She is convinced he is a stalker, or someone hired by her family to monitor her.
Ranbir turns out to be a genuinely good guy, and then it is up to Noya to decide whether to follow her head or her heart.
On the face of it, a fantastic idea and story. The storytelling was slightly stilted, a bit simplistic, and unrealistic at the same time.
Not a bad story. But not the best, either.

The Friendship Circle: A magical heartwarming story about second chances and friendship for fans of cozy small-town emotional reads in 2026! by Amanda James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this new read by Amanda James, having read many of her books before.
Eve moves to the coast after a settled thirty years in a different location, leaving her beloved bakery business behind, and meets an inquisitive neighbour, Ruth, who introduces her to a little magic at the bottom of her garden.
As the story unfolds, their friendship circle grows, and a local legend involving a circle of hag stones casts its magic.
Each of the women has a reason that they are drawn to this friendship circle, and together the five women make many changes for the better.
Though the pages reveal loss and grief, they also offer plenty of positivity, making it an easy read.
Is it realistic? Maybe not, but then we often reach for a book to take us out of reality to a place where things do have a happy ending, and this is that kind of book.
This one is lovely and full of whimsy.

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Evie Woods’ stories, filled with whimsy and a little paranormal twist. This time, our FMC, Edith, ends up in what she thinks will be her fresh start in Paris, but she gets her wires crossed and lands in a small town an hour from the French capital, working in a strange little bakery with a huge secret.
I loved how she slowly pieced together tidbits and worked out the entire history of the quaint boulangerie and its fascinating story, along with the romantic twist added by her encounters with Henry.

The Cornish Halloween Murder by Fiona Leitch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another fab story to add to the Nosy Parker series, with a murderous Halloween mystery to solve, entwined with a different story about a convent where girls were brought to have babies in secret.
Creepy dolls appearing, nooses, and then a body! I enjoyed reading Jodie’s adventures as a not-quite-police-officer with her DCI hubby, Nathan!

Strictly Business by Carrie Elks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was my first experience with Carrie Elk’s books, and I will be back for more!
The first in this series follows Ava and Myles. Enemies at work, then forced to work together, with an unexpected twist: Myles agrees to be a sperm donor for Ava’s long-awaited child.
It has enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity, and I loved how they ultimately got to know one another; Ava found herself falling for the man she thought she hated, and Myles realised there was more than sexual tension between them.
A little far-fetched? Possibly. But isn’t that why we read romances? For the HEA.

A Winter’s Trail by Jane Lovering
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Winter’s Trail is a slow-moving mystery that turns into a romance.
Faith has recently lost her father, a famous TV personality and historian, and discovers he left her a small task. Unaware of the trail’s purpose, she visits five specific churches, as requested, with the help of George, a Welsh guide her best friend insisted she use.
Forced proximity keeps them together, and you can feel the chemistry between them. The trail’s mystery, though, is bewildering. We learn a lot about Faith’s father’s philanthropy along the way, but that still isn’t the main revelation.
It was a little slower than my recent reads, and the addition of a rather eccentric pup definitely added some laughs.

Working Class Hero by Kay Bratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another fantastic read and addition to the Hart’s Ridge series by Kay Bratt.
This time, though, we follow our Sheriff Taylor Grey through an investigation regarding the sad death/ murder of a young pregnant woman; there is considerable time spent on the story of Tula Rose, a character introduced in several books previously, and her own family predicament. It sets the scene for the story to come.
I always love Kay’s writing, and since each story has a little root in truth, it flowers with her imagination; it makes the reading more powerful.

It’s Only Love by Kay Bratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book 17 in the Hart’s Ridge series still carries Kay Bratt’s inimitable style, but with a little twist: Sam, Sheriff Taylor Grey’s husband, ends up in the limelight, and she takes a backseat.
We also change locations as a case Sam works on as a private investigator takes him out of town.
A man went missing, presumed dead, eight months ago, and his brother feels there is unfinished business. He arrives on the Gulf Coast, staying in one of the marina cottages, looked after by Daniel and Tula, a couple of characters from previous books. As they learn why he is there, Daniel enlists Sam’s help and, inadvertently, Taylor’s, to dig a little deeper.
What was meant to be a little family break for Taylor and Sam ends when she rushes back with the children, leaving Sam to continue his investigation.
Inconsistent evidence, intriguing answers, unexplainable phone calls – all these things help Sam and the team to find out what really happened to Wade.
Along the way, we meet the cute Danny Boy, nephew and adopted son of Tula and Daniel, as well as Daniel’s sister Josie and Wade’s brother Walker, where a bit of romance may or may not blossom.
But we end on another cliffhanger! Kay! Oh my! At least I know another Hart’s Ridge book is coming!

The Secret Keeper of Jaipur by Alka Joshi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have to admit I haven’t read The Henna Artist, the book that precedes this story, yet it didn’t detract from my engagement with it. If anything, it made me want to read it ASAP so I could understand some elements mentioned in The Secret Keeper.
The story is set in two very different parts of India: Simla and Jaipur. Simla is a picturesque mountain area known for its cold, beautiful scenery, and Jaipur is hot and known for its history and opulence.
Malik is one of the POVs we follow. He is an orphan who has lived with Lalita for many years, like a surrogate son to her, and she has ensured he completes his education, wanting to give him every opportunity to succeed in life. She sends him to Jaipur, the town they both came from, to learn another business, where the Maharani of Jaipur is involved in building a new cinema with the latest technology.
He leaves behind Nimmi, a young widow, a tribal woman who has left her tribe and their ways to support herself and her two children in Simla.
As he meets old friends and contacts, he writes regularly to Nimmi, missing her simple ways, but since she cannot read, Lalita, his Lady Boss, reads the letters to her.
The other two POVs are Lalita and Nimmi.
A huge tragedy starts the story, and the rest of it recalls the buildup and then the ensuing investigations taken on by Malik and, later, Lalita to find out the truth.
I was engrossed in the whole story and look forward to reading the first book, and the one that comes after!

A Dash of Christmas Spirit: NEW for 2026: the perfect heartwarming cosy romance to snuggle up with this Christmas! by Susan Buchanan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Catch the blog tour post tomorrow!

The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery: the perfect small-town cosy romance to curl up with this autumn by Jennifer Page
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was looking forward to diving into this after having read Jennifer Page’s previous cafe-related series, and I was not disappointed,
Louise, the FMC, has fled London and her prized job as an editor, after making an epic mistake and arrived back in her hometown, Applethwaite, to seek solace in a familiar place, near her mother. Only to find herself back at the bakery her family has run for two generations, and she knows her mother hopes she will continue the business now that she is back.
Poor Louise had a few dilemmas to solve, as well as meeting old and new faces, some more welcome than others. Her ex-stepdaughter, Maddie, also turns up and becomes a genuine support as she tries to decide what she really wants in life.
Then there is Jack, or Giacomo, the gorgeous Italian/Yorkshireman, who is there to support his ailing father.
There is chemistry, along with questions from both of them, as each hides a secret eating at them inside.
I loved how Louise finally followed her dreams and managed to encompass the hopes of her mother with her bookshop bakery, as well as finding happiness in other areas of her life, and I have to say, I would love to visit somewhere like her new business venture!

13 books read this month! Which one caught your eye?

How has August finished so fast?

I have had the best start to the month, with the RNA Conference kicking things off.

The first 2 weeks were filled with appointments for either me, Lil Princess or my MIL.

Lil Princess got her A-Level results (She passed with great grades, and that made us all the more proud, given the ups and downs she has faced over the last few years!) as well as starting her apprenticeship! Oh, and she got offered a job!

I had to pop into school to get ready for next year, too.

Then we finished the holidays with a little city break, the whole family.

I really tried hard to get up to date with my reading because it was beginning to stress me out!

Did I write?

Around 1k words. Not much, but something.

So I read and listened as best I could. And I didn’t do too badly!

The Way Home by Amanda Prowse
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Every time,
She gets me every time.
Amanda Prowse has written ANOTHER cracker here!
The story of Lilly Bob, an older woman, single, living in the flat she has always lived in, suddenly finds that her life may be about to be uprooted as a big development company threatens to take everything she has always known away.
Written with a dual timeline, we learn all about Lilly Bob, from her younger years to the present, as everything falls into place and the reader connects events from her past to how she thinks now.
I loved the entire premise of the story. Lilly Bob, and her attachment to the River Thames, her relationship with her parents, and different partners who shape how she handles life as she gets older.
I was a little bit in love with this independent woman, who had a vulnerable past.
The other characters help to round this story perfectly, but Clodagh and her little boy, Apollo, definitely made a special place in my heart. The young woman, closed off to anyone, finding a friend in Lilly Bob, and little Apollo with his obsession over sticks. Oh, so cute!

The Invitation by Veronica Henry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh, what a wonderful read/listen!
I was swept away fully as I listened to this story, set in the 50s.
Clementine and Alfie fall in love. She can’t believe it, not feeling that they are of the same social standing.
Meanwhile, a little dual timeline of Stella, a few years earlier. She works in an art shop and meets Edwin, an artist. They fall in love, but it ends in tragedy.
We hear different POVs as the book goes on, so it can get a little confusing if you don’t listen properly. But I always love different POVs, so it enhanced my enjoyment of the story, as a grieving family find joy in a way they never expected.

Murder in Gilmerton by Val Penny
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Val Penny is fantastic with her plots and twists, and she creates books that can be read as standalones while also building such depth of character as you read the series. You really get to know individuals, and each book layers another bit of intel about each character.
This story brings us back to Hunter and a murder case (well, obvs, Ritu, the title tells us that!) But this case is a bit different in that the victim is known to most of the police force dealing with it.
The backstory of the victim is well written at the beginning, and then how things progress, how characters with history emerge, and how they are involved in an intricate web of deceit, drug trafficking, and murder comes to light.
There are also light moments with certain characters, and a romance thread that it is good to get little updates on, but ultimately, a great story. It kept me hooked!

The Wedding Planner’s Guide to Stealing the Bride by Jeevani Charika
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have just finished this one, and it gave me all the right feels.
Author Kalpana is engaged to be married to another author, Marcus. Bookish match made in heaven? Well, it could be, only Marcus is one of those literary authors, to Kalpana’s contemporary romance author. Already we see the imbalance… And I say that with a pinch of salt, because romance authors are no less than any other writers out there!
Anywho, off the soapbox to the review.
Marcus wants their wedding in Sri Lanka, the motherland of Kalpana and her family, only she isn’t that bothered. Being born and brought up in the UK means she has heritage, but it doesn’t mean she has a powerful pull to the land of her ancestors.
They find a wedding planner who sets about looking into their dream wedding – only rather cute Sampath is already quite a fan of Kalpana’s books, and who knows? Maybe more!
The story takes us to Sri Lanka, where we are wowed with some beautiful locations, and honestly, if I were to renew vows and all that, I think Sri Lanka would be a hot contender!
I love the story. The yearning, as feelings are uncovered and held back. The chemistry between Sampath and Kalpana, the two not getting married, and the anger and frustration I felt at Marcus, and the way he treats Kalpana… I really didn’t like the guy!
You kinda know the conclusion, given the title, but what a lovely journey to get there. A great beach read.

The Curse of the Saltmarsh Girl by Clare Marchant
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was enthralled right from the beginning! What atmosphere! I could feel the cold rush over me as the first scene, around the marshes, unfolded.
Clare Marchant has written a beautifully haunting story, with mystery and folklore woven through the pages that kept me hooked throughout.
In this dual-timeline story, we are at once in both the present day and 1665, in Norfolk, at the edge of the marshes, near the fictional ghost village of Saltmarsh.
In the present day, Angel has arrived at her brother Dan’s barn in the back end of nowhere, seeking solace, and she feels something strange around her as she arrives.
Rewind to 1665, and we are taken to Margery’s story as she enters the village and the marshes on the lookout for her mother and sister.
The events of Margery’s time in the area are documented by cryptic symbols that Angel somehow finds in the old village church, and we join her on a journey of discovery and revelations as she, with the help of others, finally solves certain mysteries.
I love a bit of folklore and learning about local myths, so the addition of the Black Shuck, an integral part of both storylines, was fascinating. The awakening of this creature can have two meanings, one more negative than the other, but I loved that she (yes, we have gendered the Black Shuck!) was there to protect both women as they both traversed difficult times.
I loved this story and didn’t want to put it down!

The Valley Road Diaries #1: Troy & Brian by Dion Woode
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I started this, knowing it was an MM romance, but what I wasn’t as prepared for was the SPICE!
This first story in the Valley Road Diaries focuses on Troy and Bryan.
Set in a small rural farming village in New Zealand, the story focuses on more than the romance, looking at heritage and relationships.
Troy is a young man with deep-seated hurt. He really doesn’t want to let anyone into his small circle, fearing he’ll get hurt or lose another person close to him.
Bryan is a widower, with a handful of a son and battling with his own feelings of who he really likes, at heart.
They join hands on a farming venture and encounter barricades in business and emotional ones as they get to grips with the fact that there is serious chemistry between the two of them.
Alongside the steamy scenes, the history of the land and how things came to be was another great hook in the story.
I look forward to book 2!

Just for the Cameras by Meghan Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I listened to this as I walked, and mostly I was very invested in the story.
Maple is a flamingo keeper at the Zoo.
Graydon is a football (American) player.
Both are thrown together when the team needs Graydon to help get positive publicity, and the zoo needs more awareness and funding to keep looking after the animals they have.

So we see:
😶‍🌫️/🌞 Grumpy/Sunshine
😠/👩‍❤️‍👨 Enemies to Lovers
🔏 Forced Proximity

The two really aren’t fans of each other, but there is a palpable chemistry between them from the beginning.
There is some real heart in the story as we learn Graydon’s background; however, the spice!
🥵🌶️🥵🌶️🥵🌶️
Once they break the barrier and admit to themselves that they like each other, well… there is naughty stuff happening all over the show!
Maybe there were a few too many gratuitous scenes… or maybe I felt it more as I listened in the car and realised my daughter was sitting there, listening with me! Oops!
Graydon is also part of a group: The Gladdy Daddies, three athletes, all volunteering at the zoo for similar reasons. What I loved was their little back-and-forth via a WhatsApp group, and how their own relationship toward one another grows through the story.
A strong story, and I look forward to the next one, but will be prepared for the spice factor next time!

Italy and Forever by Leonie Mack
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Leoni Mack’s books always lift me up and take me to glorious destinations – the epitome of armchair travel!
Ginny has one of the most important weddings to plan in her career: that of her dear colleague, Sophie, to the unlikely man of her dreams, Andreas. Having talked about ideal weddings for so long together, she is determined to give the couple the best wedding she can, starting with locating it in Northern Italy, where Andreas’s family come from. She just needs to secure the photographer, and whether she wants to or not, she needs to ask one of the groom-to-be’s best friends, Rhys, to do the job. They’ve clashed a lot in the past, and she doesn’t relish the idea of spending time with him.
Rhys suffers from a condition that causes face blindness, something that happened after an accident. He can’t photograph people. How can he be the official photographer at his friend’s wedding, when he’s better at scenic shots?
Through the story, he ends up agreeing, and Ginny and Rhys’s relationship turns from one extreme to the other.
I loved this whole story, and some of the funny traditions that were upheld through the lead-up to the wedding and after were key to some great moments in the book.
Ginny comes across as bold and opinionated, but she has such a soft centre that she tries to protect. Rhys may be a little gruff, but his heart is sore after being burned before. Seeing how they begin to open up to each other and magnify each other’s good sides is fabulous!
Italy and Forever is the fourth and final book in the Wedding Planners series, but can be read as a standalone. I much prefer having read all the previous stories, as we meet the different characters again and again, and we can see them grow and how their own stories develop.

Saving Christmas at the Highland Repair Shop by Kiley Dunbar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh, I am so sad that this series has come to an end!
I love how Kiley has woven in so many threads to awaken people’s social and environmental consciousness through the Highland Repair Shop series!
A new face, a person who really needs to learn to love herself, Florrie, and an old face from the village, Hamish, collide on a stormy evening, leaving mixed impressions.
They only get more confusing as it transpires that Florrie is there to audit Hamish’s Ski resort-style business, which may or may not be doing particularly well, and that Florrie’s heart isn’t in her job. She’s doing it to please family – a fractured family.
Alongside this, we get a wonderful side story of firm favourite Rhoda, one of the Gifford sisters, and how her own tragic love life is threaded through the discoveries Florrie and Hamish make.
It’s always heartwarming to come back to a series where you already love the characters, and to add more to them is just wonderful! I loved reading this, and I am so glad Florrie and Hamish got their HEA after a pretty rocky but short journey.

Holidays With the Girls by Jo Lyons
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I giggled, cringed, then laughed some more!
The escapades of these girls, especially The Dollz and all their madcap shenanigans, make for the perfect rom-com!
Connie is newly married to drop-dead gorgeous Matteo, but they barely see one another because they are still living in different countries. Her flatmates and best friends, Ged and Luke, are getting married and turning into the worst groomzillas ever. And their venue cancels on them, three weeks before the big day.
Armed with not much of a clue, and the help (?) of The Dollz, as well as a gorgeous French house Matteo can source, they head off for a manic, entertaining and totally off the scales pre-wedding week!
It’s like everything that can go wrong does, and involves young children, a random puppy, and a girl band, each with their own personal traumas going on, and you get the funniest, heartwarming read ever.
It can be read as a standalone, but I have read the previous books, so this just built on an already hilarious foundation and added more depth and guffaws as the story unfolded!

The Secret Diary of a Bengali Mum by Halima Khatun
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Right, so I am back from listening to the next instalment of the Secret Diary of a Bengali… Mum, this time, and I was as enamoured of the whole story as the last books.
This time our FMC has finally had her baby, referred to as H2 in the book, and we accompany her on all the trials and tribulations of being a first time mother, with the usual pressures put upon you, as well as looking through the lens of being from a South Asian background, affecting exactly what you are (and are not) meant to say and talk about postpartum, and your own mental health.
I laughed – honestly, her Mum is brilliant, talking about Jesus baskets! And there are so many emotional pulls and laughter, as she realises motherhood isn’t as simple as it may be made out to be. Halima Khatun, the author, deals with the baby blues, rarely talked about by many of the older generations of South Asian parents, as well as touching upon the support networks built up in the community and, more seriously, the health of your own parents as you become a parent yourself.
Serious issues, covered with a good layer of humour and emotion.
I listened in the car, and even my daughter wanted to keep listening, so I guess we need to get on to the next story, now!

Just for the Season by Jo Lovett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this autumnal meet-cute of a romance!
Frankie heads back to her village roots, devastated after losing her man, her home and her job. The full Trifecta, in one swoop. Being back where she feels safe, with her cousin and pretty much best friend, nephew, and her dear grandmother, should make things better.
Then she meets Marcus – the cake grabber! (I’ll say no more on that issue. You need to read it!) He’s a single dad, rather attractive, and a little bit moody.
That’s where the rom-com kicks in: they end up fake-dating in a tiny village where gossip is the mainstay of residents’ lives.
Faux romance, undeniable chemistry, and a moody child to rock the boat – what more could you want?
I loved it and sped through the story, and the ending left me with a real warm glow.

A Little Christmas Rivalry by Sandy Barker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh, I do love a Sandy Barker book, and she does write these romances beautifully!
We have two sparring colleagues, Sophie and Drew. Each of them rubs the other the wrong way; however, they both feel some sort of attraction they want to fight.
Both have romantic histories that keep them from moving on. But you know what happens if you keep denying chemistry, especially in Rom Coms… Things are going to get heated!
There is angst, the aforementioned chemistry, as well as two girls, one young and rather cute, one older and a little more cunning- and they are both rather naughty in a way.
A perfect enemies-to-lovers story, wrapped up in festive spirit and tied up with a huge romantic bow!

Love Unlocked: the brand-new emotional and uplifting love story from the international bestselling author of PS I Love You by Cecelia Ahern
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cecelia Ahern is such a wonderful storyteller; I was excited to get to read this one a bit early!
It centres around a bridge filled with ‘love locks’. You know, the ones that people attach to particular bridges around the world, signifying a special union?
Well, the fictional love locks in this story are based on a bridge in Ireland, and the history of the name of the bridge brings all sorts of romance before you even start to think of the locks.
Anywho, we have Melody, a successful DJ and podcaster, firmly in the ‘No thanks, Love’ camp, after a particularly awkward break-up.
And then we have Al. Love was his thing. In love with his fiancée, with his best friend living with them, his world is turned upside down, shaking his faith in his intuition and in love.
Al is partly responsible for removing the Love Locks from the bridge.
Melody thinks she’s found a connection between that action and many unexpected breakups that day.
And then they meet one another…
Each character is wonderfully flawed, and I loved learning a little bit more about each one and seeing what really made them tick.

Falling for You by Heidi Swain
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another beautiful read by Heidi Swain, revisiting Nightingale Square and watching a new family move in.
Skylar is at a loss for what to do with her life. She’s without a job, home or partner, so, fortuitously for her, Rafe, her father, is moving to the UK and has bought a house. His invitation to stay with her is both lucky and tinged with a little worry, as she has spent very little time with her father.
Once there, her worries begin to dissipate, and she meets wonderful neighbours and community members, including Erik, a former rugby star who came here to try an alternative lifestyle after an injury put his career in jeopardy.
It starts with a bit of an enemies-to-friends dynamic, then moves to friends-to-lovers, slowly but steadily.
The characters were all intriguing, and I took a liking to Skylar, especially as she gives so much of herself to others. I loved her stints at the local residential home, and her relationship with her grandfather and some of the other residents, who added their own flavour to the story.

The Disappearers by Marlon James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found this a tough read.
If you are going in, expect raw, gritty, and sometimes explicit and violent scenes.
Depicting the gay scene in Jamaica in the late 1980s, with a group of eight gay men, all auditioning for a play that will very much put them in possibly unfavourable limelight, this was an uncomfortable read.
We all know prejudice occurs, but to read it so openly was difficult. The fear around AIDS that spread across the world feels magnified within this community, and how the Gay community had to survive was heart-wrenching.
An important read, but again, if you want something simple, this is not it. It’s long, and it’s very emotional.

The French Christmas Market by Gillian Harvey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Christmas in France, with snow, Père Noël and a handsome French man visiting regularly… sounds wonderful, doesn’t it?
Not as cut and dried as that.
The MC, Nicola, has moved to France after a change in her employment circumstances, and she and her husband, Steven, plan to celebrate their first Christmas together; however, his job as a paediatric nurse means he can’t join her as planned.
Ready to face the festive season alone, with no one she loves around her, Nicola sets about trying to sort her new life out.
She has to navigate a new country, new culture, and traditions different from her own, as well as a cranky elderly neighbour who seems to be her only one!
Lucien is her first art student, and I wondered whether he would become a distraction, but I loved how his connection with Nicola panned out.
A little discovery when clearing out some rooms in her new house ties in nicely at the end, too.
Nicola is a family-loving soul, and reading about how she navigates a very family-centric time with the possibility of being alone tugged at the heartstrings.
I always say this when reading Gillian Harvey’s books, but she does make the idea of upping sticks and moving to rural France a real treat! Yes, there are inevitably teething problems, but the communities she builds for the characters, and the whole ambience, make me want to do it!

The Regency Switch by Helen Gaskell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh, I absolutely adored this Regency time-switch story!
I am definitely a Bridgerton fan, and dual timelines and time switches are always fun, so to have them both was perfect!
It’s 2023 and Etta Moore is on her way to work, sitting on the tube, minding her own business when two older women are suddenly by her side with a strange proposition.
A woman ahead of her time, Hetty Bainbridge, in 1817, somehow concocts a way to time-shift to the future, swapping her life with Etta.
It was brilliantly done, with Etta dropping into an era she has only really read of, in the Recency romances, and by watching Bridgerton, and she soon finds out life isn’t all that rosy, especially since the body she now in habits, had a bit of a reputation for being a bit, well, mad.
Hetty, on the other hand, finds herself. From getting the help she needed as well as gaining an education, and finally spreading her romantic wings, life is wonderful.
There is romance, plenty of that, in unexpected places. I love the sapphic twist for Hetty, as well as the angst a hush hush liasion causes Etta.
And there are so many other threads there, looking at how life really has changed for women over the centuries, how depression was depicted, as well as independence for women.
I think I could gush about this one for a while, but I don’t want to add spoilers, so please read/listen! It’s a good un!

The Time of My Afterlife by Lucy Mitchell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh, I was sucked into this story from the very beginning!
Florence and Clark – known each other since they were six. Bickered their way to adulthood. Florence really can’t stand him. Clark is a bit bemused by it all, but gives as good as he gets.
Somehow getting stuck in the afterlife, after a freak accident, they end up with a challenge – to change something and get the chance to live again, or…
So many great romance tropes in this story, from enemies to lovers, to forced proximity (a particular fave of mine) as well as magical realism.
Okay, so you kinda know what will happen in the end, or at least you hope you do, but the journey there is entertaining, and emotive in equal measures.
In their pursuit to change and help others, we meet a wide cast of characters, like Pearl, the octogenarian neighbour of Clark, pining for her lost love, and Jane who is trying to move on after losing her partner, with a teenage son in tow who grief affects in its own unique way, among many others.
Lucy Mitchell has added layers to the story that affects several characters, over and above the romance element. Grief is pivotal, with emphasis on how grief doesn’t just disappear, and how it can affect different folks in different ways.
Overfall, a good read, with some wonderful moments and a few twists to keep a reader on their toes!

A beautiful feel-good story – I am on the blog tour for this one, so full review there next month!

The Secret Diary of a Fraught Bengali: a clean romance with a hint of first time mum anxiety by Halima Khatun
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Finished listening to the next instalment of the Secret Diary of a Bengali Woman; this time, H is fraught!
I always love diving back into the world and family that Halima Khatun has depicted in this series. There are so many similarities and overlaps with the British Bengali community and our British Sikh one, but also so many differences, so it is both a reminiscence and an education.
H is dealing with a toddler now, still unsettled at night, fraught with her child’s allergies, and dependence on her. She’s not back at work and feels like a failure, seeing everyone else around her in similar situations excelling.
The balance of wanting independence, and also needing the comfort and support of her own family, as well as dealing with the whole sandwich generation issue; young children and ageing unwell parents is handled carefully, and we are brought right to the current political climate of rising fascism and racism, with the thoughts going through H’s mind being ones that many of us British born citizens, who are a bit more melanin heavy, worry about.
Add in a major move in the cards towards the end, and we get a wonderfully haphazard, realistic account of being a brown female of a certain age, someone many will relate to.
Bengali Millennial… bring it on!

A Curious Ending by Sally Page
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sally Page’s books always mesmerise me, and this wasn’t any different.
A little different, in that we have a mystery to solve, but no less captivating.
Lara, a florist, lives in a small village and finds she really has only one friend: an elderly lady, Lady Porter, with whom she can relax. She is devastated when the old lady passes away, leaving her alone. But she’s not.
She finds herself with a Kindred Spirit – a ghost of a kind – Abigail, who has been sent to help her solve a mystery. Namely, a murder.
I have to say, I loved this whole concept: a ghostly detective supporting our main character as she finds out what really happened to the unforgettable Lady Porter.
There is a huge cast of characters, many of whom could be suspects, as well as those who have the potential to become something more to Lara.
Many twists and turns left me guessing until the very end as to the conclusion of this mystery!

Heartbreak for the Irish Midwife by Seána Tinley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

TW: Miscarriage, Abortion, Loss, Suicide
I’ll be honest. I already knew I would love this before reading it, because I’m so enamoured with the previous two books.
Heartbreak for the Irish Midwife nearly broke my heart at different points!
This story follows the relationship between Maisie, a newly qualified Catholic midwife, and Alex, a recently qualified obstetrician from a Protestant family.
Religion featured heavily in this story, namely the religion’s guilt piled upon people of certain faiths and beliefs, causing heartbreak and negative views of themselves.
I loved Maggie and Alex’s romance, and how slowly they fell into a relationship, both respectful and illicit at the same time. The journey of having to admit their feelings to their families, and whether their love would be accepted, was a beautifully painful tale.
Pregnancy and childbirth are never easy, and it was so much harder in years gone by. The portrayal of how women were treated during their precious months was equally heartwarming and devastating, depending on who they were and who was treating them.
There is a lot to absorb in this story, and Seána Tinley approaches it with empathy and care, making the reader care keenly for all the characters in the book, not just the two main characters, for whom we only want the best.

The Salem Supper Club by Shelley Wilson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just finished reading The Salem Supper Club by Shelley Wilson, and I LOVED it!
Ellie is in a bit of a bind. She has lost her job and her boyfriend, and has no means to pay her London rent, meaning she needs to go back home to her father, who has never been backwards in showing his negative feelings towards her.
Sad news comes with a way forward, as she learns that her beloved aunt in Salem, America, has passed away. Rushing there to attend the funeral, she is given an opportunity to start afresh, but even in Salem, there is uncomfortable, unfinished business involving Nate, her first love from fifteen years before.
While settling into Salem life, Ellie starts The Salem Supper Club in what was her aunt’s cafe, catering to the town’s lonely souls and encouraging friendship, conversation, and a chance to belong.
Ellie and Nate’s histories provide most of the drama, so what we read is the healing, and I loved that.
You know those moments you read something, and you want to literally reach into the pages to give someone a good slap/shaking? That was me, every time Alistair was on the scene!
The Salem Supper Club is a place I’d go to, if only to chat to different folks and be a part of helping them through loneliness, too 🧡🤎🧡

A Tempting Trio: An Irresistibly Fun Romantic Comedy! by Bettina Hunt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Tempting Trio is the story of Sarah, who has managed to find herself, unintentionally in a bit of a dating conundrum.
I have read this before, so listening to it later was a pleasure.
She’s been in a relationship with David, a married man, though she knows it’s wrong, and she should end in, when she meets a rather gorgeous stranger, Adam, in a coffee shop. He leaves his number. Maybe Adam will be the one who helps her kick her married man to the curb, and back to his wife…
Then her best friend, Alice, offers her a job opportunity and introduces her to Tommy, an aristocratic romantic who fancies our Sarah.
All three men have something about them.
But she’s not that greedy… is she?
There are some moments when you feel glad you’re not in her shoes. I mean, what are the chances of having all three of your men turning up in Paris, and confronting you while you are trying to enjoy a midnight visit to the Eiffel Tower?!
Again, another easy-to-listen-to, fun story, where you don’t quite know where Sarah and her dating future will lead her.

25 books read this month! More than I expected! Which one caught your eye?