But I Smile Anyway…

May – one of those weird months as a teacher. It is short in that we have two bank holidays, plus the half-term week is at the end, but hectic down my end as we have all the new places filled, paperwork to do, transitions to organise, reports to write, as well as it being exam season, and Lil Princess started her A-Level exams too!

Another big event was that Pops turned 80 this month, which is HUGE, and a family wedding to attend after a drought of invites!

The books are out there! The Rishtay Series – new edits – are back in the world with fresh new artwork, if anyone wants to pop over to Amazon and have a read!

https://mybook.to/RishtaySeries

So I read and listened as best I could. I am actively trying not to sign up for too many more ARCS, unless I REALLY want to read it, as I have so many books on my TBR – books I bought because I wanted to read them, so hopefully, by the summer hols, I will be reading more of the books I own! And I got through the month only adding a couple more arcs to my list, so, for me that is pretty good!

Wild About You: A BRAND NEW unforgettable romance of second chances from Jo Lovett for 2026 by Jo Lovett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an easy second-chance romance read.
Flavia and her family are still getting over the loss of her father and recovering from a broken marriage, and as they gather with friends, she finds herself face-to-face with someone from her past, someone who may have altered her whole way of thinking about love and romance.
Dominic cannot commit to anyone. He’s a good guy, but doesn’t think he’s good for anyone, long term.
Seeing Flavia after many years stirred emotions he didn’t realise were still active.
They find themselves both winners of a prize to Cape Town, South Africa, a trip originally booked for Flavia’s parents before her dad passed away.
And there we have the discomfort of being within close proximity with someone you really don’t want to be near, but actually kinda do, as well as all the feelings that go with that.
You know when you are already pretty sure what the ending will be, but you enjoy the journey to the destination? That is this book!

Old Girls Go Off the Rails by Maddie Please
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Having already read some of Maddie Please’s older-gen stories, I was eager to enjoy this next story about school friends Lizzie, Harriet, and Anna.
In their 60s, they reunite via Facebook and decide to relive their youth with a short Inter-railing trip to Europe – a trip both Harriet and Anna had already taken part in as teenagers, but one which Lizzie had missed, because of having to work that summer.
Lizzie and Harriet are both divorced. Anna is leaving her husband behind for two weeks. A week of reminiscing, and another on a cruise to relax.
Inter-railing and the more mature woman is not a usual combination, but who am I to say what people can do as they get older!
The trials of this very situation provide some funny moments.
During the trip, Lizzie notices a face that keeps cropping up wherever she goes, and that individual ends up providing more entertainment and a little gentle romance.
It was like a whirlwind stop-and-go mini European tour of a few places in France and Italy, with a cruise around the Croatian islands, making me want to go visit!
An easy-to-read, fun read with mature characters proving that life doesn’t simply stop at retirement.

Drop Dead by Lily Chu
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An easy-to-listen-to enemies-to-lovers romance with closed-door spice.
Two journalists, who were students together at college and are now vying for the same success, find themselves embroiled in a mystery after the death of a flamboyant author.
Nadine and Wesley have hated each other for a long time, and now they are living together for three weeks, in Dot Volene’s mansion, as they try to unpick a mystery surrounding one of the author’s books.
You can feel the underlying chemistry pulsating between the two characters, and it’s only time before they cave.
The mystery is interestingly revealed.
One thing I loved was the little snippets about Wes’s home life, as he is cast as the henpecked son of a Chinese family, and the expectations put upon him to constantly pander to his mother’s never-ending demands. The pressure to constantly be there is something he finally pushes against at the end.
Easy to listen to.

Every Time We Touch by Lucy Mitchell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ooh! An all-new Lucy Mitchell with a bit of magical realism thrown in!
I am a huge Lucy Mitchell fan, as it is, and when I heard she was mixing things up a bit from the more rom-com style to this borderline paranormal genre, I was intrigued. And a bookshop plays a huge part, so that was me sold! I tell you what… I was not disappointed!
Nelly has distanced herself from love and all it entails because of her curse. From a young girl, every time she touches someone, she sees a flash-forward to their future, and it almost always seems to end tragically. Seeing images of her friends and loved ones has already cost her a dear friendship, so she does everything she can to physically keep away from people.
She leads a lonely life with just her and her cat, Lenny, until financial troubles force her to find a flatmate.
Enter romantic novelist Oliver, an acquaintance of her bookshop employer, and all manner of flutterings begin. Oliver has his own demons, and Nelly finds herself slowly pulled towards him. And why ever not? He sounds rather hot!
There are so many barriers, but Lucy manages to create a brilliant slow burn between them both, and the addition of ‘sharing a bed’, albeit with the world’s biggest pillow wall, is a great way for them to build trust.
Alongside Nelly’s story, we have her visits to her Aunt Polly, who pretty much raised her and supported her in so many ways. Her car, Nigella, features heavily, too!
This isn’t just a romance. There is much to learn about processing grief and understanding that love isn’t just about the end result but, more importantly, about all that comes before.
A beautiful read with a sprinkle of magic!

The Tea Room Inheritance by Hannah Langdon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bella is just about to get married, in just over a week, when her fiancé says he can’t go through with it.
Plenty of emotions later, including trying to cancel everything because she has an inept ex-fiancé, her godmother, living in a tiny place called Spindrift Bay, invites her over to have some time to herself, and to come to terms with the break-up.
She arrives to chaos as a tragic accident means her godmother is no more. However, she leaves Bella with a beautiful house and ownership of her tea rooms.
A cryptic message relayed to Bella by the woman who was with her godmother at the end leads her on a bit of a mystery as she uncovers little secrets that add up to a huge one.
On the way, Bella meets some real characters, like Gloria, the B&B owner, and also someone who takes her breath away, though she’s not sure whether it is too soon after her broken engagement.
Bella is very emotional and prone to crying a lot, but she ends up in a wonderful situation with an entire community behind her.
I enjoyed this slow-burning romance with a dash of mild mystery, and plenty of kittens in it! I think I’d rather like some tea rooms … shame I don’t have a Godmother!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC.

Road Trip to the Riviera by Gillian Harvey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another fabulous story by Gillian Harvey!
This second-chance story takes place in a pretty much vintage VS campervan called Betty, as the two MCs travel from England to France.
The little twist is that the two travellers are on their way to their son’s wedding; however, they are not together and have not been since their son was born when they were both very young.
Sarah is in a bind. She’s hurt her leg and cannot fly, but needs to get to France for her son’s wedding. Trains are too much faff with a leg in an (ugly) boot. The only other solution that comes to mind is to go with Hal, her son’s father. Only he’s planning to take the scenic route in his beloved 20-year-old camper van, Betty.
I loved the slow burn in this story, as the route is travelled. You can feel there is an underlying chemistry between the two. It’s the epitome of the right people, wrong time for them, the first time around, and you find yourself vying for them to make it the right time for them now.
As always, Gillian transports her readers to France as she describes the different places Hal and Sarah drive through on their way.

25 Days in Athens by Jack Strange
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh, what a blast!
Jack Strange has written another brilliantly funny MM romance in 25 Days in Athens.
Will is a decidedly chaotic character, but so lovable. Stuck in a dead-end job, with no prospect of a decent promotion, he whiles the time away, talking to his friend Willow, a spider on the wall, as well as the main character on an animated story he is working on.
An invitation to the wedding of his ex, Ollie, the one that got away, sets off a chain of events, including booking himself into a hotel in Athens for the best part of a month – 25 days, and then, intent on getting his man back, he finds out he made a bit of a mistake with his hotel booking and meeting a real blast from the past, who rekindles others emotions.
I have to admit to laughing out loud a few times as I read this brilliant story of a second chance romance, confusion, and a nudist hotel!

Wife Support System by Kathleen Whyman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have not long discovered Kathleen Whyman’s books and have thoroughly enjoyed what I have read and listened to so far. Stories about working mums – needed!
The Wife Support System centres around three women, each a mother with their own struggles.
Erika is a working mother running an independent business, with a partner who thinks his career is much more important, leaving Erika to do the heavy lifting surrounding the housework and their daughter, Jasmine. (Okay, so the nanny does a lot, but if they are let down, which they are, it’s Erika’s job to sort things.
Louise is in her high-flying job, with a husband who is an editor and is writing his first novel. Louise feels she is parenting not only her two children but also her husband.
Polly lives in a crumbling B&B, a widow with two children, lonely and with a huge secret.
Situations escalate, and a suggestion is made that they all live together, mothers and children, during the week, with Polly in her B&B, to support each other with childcare and give the men a chance to miss them.
Sounds ideal, doesn’t it?
But even though there are pluses to the idea, there are plenty of clashes, as well as realisations.
It was a great story, showing the strengths and weaknesses of female friendship, and how facades are put up, but are hard to live with 24/7, as reality slowly creeps through the cracks.

How to Ruin the Holidays by Becky Monson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A cute Festive romance, with all the makings of a Christmas movie!
Mara has been tasked with going to Carole Cove to secure a land sale for her father. She ends up in this kitsch town, all things Christmas around here, including the names of many who live there. Not being much of a Hallmark movie fan, she just wants to do her job and leave, but her best friend, who is in regular contact with her, constantly parallels her daily life there with the plot of a proper HEA-style festive film.
Of course, there is mistletoe, being snowed in, sleigh rides, and a swoonsome hero called Noel… as well as some well-meaning locals, but there is always a twist.
This was a lovely, easy listen, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Romantic Hero by Kirsty Greenwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A great rom-com with just the right spice and intrigue to keep you turning the pages!
Gertie Bickerstaff has a terrifying bout of writer’s; block her deadline is looming, her agent is gently trying to coax her finished manuscript from her but her inclination is to drown her sorrows every night.
A traumatic relationship breakup has drained her of any creativity. While her ex is happily going about his writerly life, Gertie is stuck. Until she finds a stranger in her living room. Someone she doesn’t know, but still familiar to her.
The appearance of one of her characters, namely River Oakley, the villain in her fictional world, into her reality puts her in a tailspin and confuses him, too.
I loved the entire premise of fiction coming to life, as well as the possibility of there being a parallel universe somewhere where all our stories are actually reality!
And Gertie’s neighbours, Mrs Casablancas and her dog Squish, are an adorable set of additions to the characters in this gorgeous story!

A Wedding Under the Cornish Sky: The unputdownable new romance and escapist beach read from the Sunday Times bestselling author by Phillipa Ashley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another gorgeous read by Phillipa Ashley!
Our FMC, Zennor, lives in St Ives and is a successful business owner, scouting and representing local entertainment acts with her business partner, Roo. She has come a long way from the heartache of a broken marriage and the memories of a fraught wedding day five years previously. Just as her life is coming together, her past comes back in more than one way to haunt her.
Her first love, Matt, reappears and is rather close for comfort, now the owner of the building her offices are in; then her ex-husband, Trey, turns up, having bought the very hotel where their disastrous wedding took place, with every intention of staying close by.
Anything set on the Cornish coast gets my approval as it sounds beautiful, and I am ashamed to say that despite 50 years on this earth and in this very country, I have never been! I will go one day, even if it is just to pay homage to all the gorgeous literature based there!
This was a wonderfully comforting read, with a foregone conclusion, but plenty of its own little twists and turns to keep a reader turning pages.

Pumpkin Spice and Not So Nice by Becky Monson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jenna is convinced she attracts emotionally unavailable men, so she decides enough is enough. She’s got enough on her plate supporting her family on their pumpkin farm while they fundraise for work on their barn, and her day job at a spa. Counting up donations one evening, she finds a note on a $50 bill and is compelled to try to find out who the owner of this donation is, as it seems it may not have been donated.
Through this, she meets Aiden. A hot, but what seems like another emotionally unavailable man, who ends up asking for her help.
You know when you can sense the ending, but you enjoy the build-up? That was my feeling as I listened. Jenna is so unaware of things, I wanted to shake her sometimes, to see what was in front of her, and to stop second-guessing everything!
Another cute listen from Becky Monson.

The Secret Library by Amanda James
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Yet another corker by Amanda James!
Lucy is an editor in London with a publisher, desperately trying to find the diamond in the slush piles.
She has loved books since she was a child, heavily influenced by her editor grandmother, Morwenna.
When Morwenna passes, she leaves everything to her darling granddaughter, so Lucy becomes the owner of a beautiful Cornish home with a magical library.
She finds a box filled with unfinished manuscripts and a note from her grandmother to read and edit these old works, and in doing so, she unleashes something magical.
I loved the entire premise of this story, and right now, I want a magical library, too!
All of us readers know the magic of a good book, and this story captures that feeling and multiplies it t

Love Songs Suck by Becky Monson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another easy to listen to Romance by Becky Monson.
This time, we have Louella, newly engaged to Kurt. She finds herself thrust into the limelight when it comes to light that a popular song was written with her in mind.
She ends up in close quarters with pop star Finn, hounded by paparazzi, with a supportive family and friends, but a fiancé who wants nothing to do with this infamy.
A gorgeous, slow-burning romance where you already know where you want it to end, but you keep going for the journey!

The Love Potion by Becky Monson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another super-sweet romance from Becky Monson.
Ally walks into work accompanied by an awful smell… a love potion she bought at a fair. She is quickly reminded that its potency is more smelly than sexy, so she attempts to remove the stench… only to attract the attention of her work crush.
But she also notices a change in the behaviour of her work bestie, Josh, and not for the most positive of reasons.
Okay, so this was another lovely, easy listen with a most satisfying end, and what was even better was that there was a character in here from one of my previous Becky Monson listens, Chase from The Accidental Text, and I love it when there is a little appearance of characters I have already met before!

Hit or Miss by Elle Kelk
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lyndsey Kelk writes as Elle Kelk with a college romance that is a tad spicier than usual!
Mia has moved to England for a year to attend a prestigious university, Hemden. She’s ready to shed her ‘librarian’ tag and try to build her individuality after being constantly mollycoddled by her parents. New start, new friends, no one to remind her of her old self.
Then Ethan arrives. Typical all-American college sports hero. He’s transferred to Hemden for the soccer team, as well as to get away from the gossip and constant backlash from his father over an incident that occurred back home.
The thing is, they are both from the same American university.
And that’s not great for Mia. Neither is it fantastic for Ethan.
Both of them have pasts they are trying to shrug off, but now there’s a chance that things they didn’t want people here to know about might come to light.
I really enjoyed this story, and the uni vibe really resonated. Even though I was at uni 30 years ago, the whole concept of it, the culture of UK uni experiences still hit a note.
I related to Mia in more than one way, being a bit of a ‘librarian’ geek, before leaving home, and then coming into my own when I gained my independence.
Ethan came across as a typical sports-mad lad, but the heart shone through brightly.
It was a full-on enemies-to-lovers thing for Mia, yet for Ethan, it was a slow burn, but definitely him falling for her first.
The way they finally opened up together was brilliantly done, and the chemistry between these two characters simmered with something spicy as they built up to finally admitting their feelings to one another!

I managed to read and listen to 16 books, write 39 reports, and republish my books! I think that is a win, don’t you? Which one sounds like something you would read?

Hello and goodbye to April, arriving with the school holidays, so YAY! And I have been away for a week, too, in beautiful Jamaica, with my Lil Princess! You will need to check out my Instagram for some gorgeous sunshine-filled photos of our break!

Formatting has been my companion this month, as I get things ready to press Publish on my three novels! I might need some help getting these out there again soon! The covers are being redesigned, and I hope they will be out again in the next couple of weeks for lovely readers to enjoy!

So I read and listened as best I could. I have listened less this month, as I have walked less, but I have read plenty!

Don’t Fall in Love With Me by Paige Toon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love a Paige Toon book, and this was a great read, as usual.
Lots of emotion and angst, as well as some wonderful romance, too.
Grace moves to France for the summer at the behest of an old friend, or rather an old crush, Jackson.
He’s newly divorced, so there’s a chance she still has feelings for him.
But she bumps into brooding Etienne, who stirs feelings in her she can’t shake.
Things are revealed, including the fact that she knew Etienne before, too, from one of her trips to France as a youngster.
There are secrets and choices that need to be made, all set in fantastic surroundings, with a great cast of colourful characters, including Mellie, Grace’s kinda grandma, with whom she stays.
The ending was good, but I only wished for a little more…
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House, Cornerstone for an ARC.

Sour Fruit by Ahana Virdi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I’m not sure what I was expecting here, but it sure wasn’t the story I read!
A gory look at the tortured mind of a young British Indian woman, Avni, who seeks pleasure in rather twisted and downright bloodthirsty acts.
It wasn’t really the book for me, but I can see it appealing to many others,
Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an ARC.

The Tanglewood Tea Shop by Lilac Mills
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an easy, cute listen, with FMC Stevie suddenly finding herself with an inheritance, much to the distaste of her mother and sister. She uproots her life in London to a sleepy, but beautiful little town where she buys a tea shop.
Stevie meets some wonderful characters, as well as some rather horrid ones, and of course, there is a hunk or two… but there is only one for her.
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this on my walks.

The Boyfriend Academy by J.S. Strange
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well, this was a bit of a departure from author J S Strange’s debut! Where that was a straightforward (excuse the pun!) MM romance The Boyfriend Academy was a dark academia-based story, with, of course, the MM twist.
I’m not one for dystopian stories, if I am honest, but I was sucked into this one from the off.
Set many years in the future, this story takes place at a prestigious boarding school, Ganymede, where boys are sent to become the best men they can be before being paired off with their selected partners.
There’s no political party in charge. The Monarchy hold the reins for the country, fully, now. Slowly ridding their society of toxic masculinity, and creating perfect men and women, healthy and intelligent, ready to repopulate a population vastly depleted over the years.
But nowhere in this plan has the Monarchy allowed for those who may not feel attractions to those other than a different sex, or even those who are more gender fluid.
This is a dark story in which the MCs, Dylan and Roman, are fighting an attraction so strong that it is under the watchful eyes of superiors who may not have their best interests at heart.
There is some powerful chemistry between the two, and I almost wish they had more of a chance to explore.
I can’t tell you much more here, as you need to read for yourself, and I don’t want to give any spoilers away.
But I do hope there are plans for a book 2…
Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins, One More Chapter, for an ARC.

Blind Date with a Book by Emily Kerr
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoy reading Emily Kerr’s books, and this was a lovely, easy-to-read romance, based on an Oxford canal in a Bookish Boatshop! Or Boatship, I should say!
Molly took over the boat from her beloved Nanna Rose and wants to make her floating business a success, but it is harder than she thought with so many hidden expenses and not as many customers as she would like.
She comes up with some ideas to support her finances, and, along with Hilda, her adorable Irish Wolfhound, she sets about a Blind Date with a Book event, which leads to her meeting some significant characters: Jack and Liam.
There is slow burn, a bit of a triangle, and some mystery at play, and all done in the best bookish way!
A great read!

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

I loved this next instalment in Halima Khatun’s series with our FMC now pregnant, and navigating the next journey as a married woman and a self-employed person, with a lovely husband, who is great, but sometimes oblivious!
Thoroughly enjoyed listening to her escapades, and thoughts on pregnancy, as well as her observations on everything pregnancy-related!

Fifteen Minutes by Amanda Prowse
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a powerful, emotional short by one of my favourite authors, Amanda Prowse. Imagine, indeed, if you could have fifteen minutes with a dear loved one who is no more.
Chen is someone who can give that exact gift to specific people, and though they don’t always believe he can, they are thankful for the opportunity.
From a grieving friend who wants permission, to a widower who can’t let go of the past, to a father grieving his son… each section of the story brings tears to the reader’s eyes.
I was reading on a plane, and it was pretty tough to control my emotions, I tell you!
If you love stories that pull on the heartstrings, then this is for you!

If I Ruled the World by Amy Dubois Barnett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a kick-ass story set in the late 90s about a black woman, Nikki Rose, and her struggles within the publication industry. Working hard to prove herself at a successful magazine, she feels she is the token melanin shot to make the company feel they have fulfilled a quota.
She finds herself with an opportunity to change a little part of her world when an Editor In Chief position is offered to her in a smaller concern, but with a magazine she has visions to mould into the read for all young urban black women, with issues and articles relating to them, and their world.
There is so much to unpick and unpack within this, with the toxic masculinity, the overt racism, the way rap culture influenced many, and shines a light on so much that is, unfortunately, still relevant today.
A powerful read.

The Great Italian Holiday Mix-up by Sandy Barker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I feel like a Sandy Barker book always preempts my summers, and this year is no different, with a fantastic read to enjoy on the beach!
The Great Italian Holiday Mix-Up is a fab romance, with a twist. Two couples meant to be on the holiday of a lifetime, somehow get separated via the holiday company that organised their trips. Okay, so it doesn’t help that the two males in the couples have the same names, but, we have 4 people finding themselves in a bit of a predicament,
But I guess sometimes you need a mix-up to gain clarity on something so familiar it’s become stale.
You have a gorgeous location, and forced proximity, strangers to friends… and maybe to lovers?
I loved this story, and there is a little steam to cheer up the sauce brigade, too, at the end, after plenty of hints!
A great beach read.

People Pleaser by Bryony Gordon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Imagine a day when you finally begin to speak your mind, after years of doing so, to keep everyone around you happy?
This is the premise for the story, where our FMC is a working wife and mother – always doing everything for her children, no longer operating as husband and wife, physically, taking one another for granted, and slaving away at a job she has held for years, only to have a well-deserved promotion snatched from her, as she is basically too much of a ‘yes’ woman, and has become part of the furniture, rather than valued…
A chance encounter with a new fellow employee, and a little bit of illicit substance later, means that something snaps in her irreparably, and she finds herself unable to stop her thoughts from leaving her mind.
The reaction to her going from people-pleaser to people UN-pleaser is dramatic. Some cannot fathom a world where she dares to say no, some find it amusing, and some are cheering her on for finally finding a backbone.
She works through some different longstanding issues and deals with so many issues, like narcissistic parents, misogyny, and sexual harassment at work, in a way that I was reading here, by the sidelines, cheering my girl on!
Sometimes, I wish I had the gumption to do this. In fact, as I get older, I think I care less about others’ thinking, but how liberating, to finally be the woman she wants to be!
I really enjoyed reading this story of empowerment and finally finding oneself.

Meet Me at Apple Blossom Lane: Don’t miss this brand-new, swoon-worthy second chance romance for fans of Laurie Gilmore arriving in spring 2026. by Anita Faulkner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You, Mrs Faulkner, have written another cracker of a book!
Filled with angst, romance, and that perfect hint of heat (well, actually, more spice!), it was a perfect beachside read!
Alyssa is an influencer and love coach, but her life gets turned upside down when a relationship ends, and her income dwindles as she has fewer couples to coach toward love.
She’s a bit jaded about the L-word anyway, because life has thrown some real negatives her way, and as a result, all her relationships are tarnished.
A chance opportunity brings her back to her hometown, a quaint little village in the Cotswolds, Hartglove, a place she has tried her hardest to distance herself from, even changing her name to be a different person.
And here she is, now, there, immersed in her old life, but with a new alias.
Her task? To test-drive a new app that is the total opposite of her own business model, with the app finding you your ideal partner.
Does it work? Well, I won’t tell you that, but what I will say is that she meets her BUM (you need to read to find out the acronym meaning!) and he is a blast from her past, and boy, has he grown into a fine man, Dylan is a GOD (Another acronym you need to read to understand!) and all the difficulties that ensue are rivetting!
I cannot finish this review without mentioning Pikachu, the little mouse who keeps her company, through almost the whole of the book. So cute!
An absolute cracker of a story, a wonderful book and honestly, one of my favourite feel-good reads so far this year!

An Italian Island Love Story by Leonie Mack
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An Italian Island Love Story is a fantastic mistaken identity, close-proximity, strangers-to-lovers story, with a young widowed mother of one, Toni, finding herself in Elba, a small Italian Island, to work on a wedding, where she goes to stay with the florist Gabri, only to find out that she is a he!
I love that it wasn’t drawn out too much; they express their attraction quickly. However, the emotional angst is REAL, and it is brilliantly done!
Tying in Gabri’s accidental meeting with Cillian, Toni’s son, and how their relationship develops is another plus in the story.
And I loved the little learning points dropped in about foraging, flowers, and turtles!
Such a cute, lovely story, perfect for that holiday read!

Making Sparks Fly at the Highland Repair Shop: A BRAND NEW heartwarming, Highland romance from Kiley Dunbar for 2026 by Kiley Dunbar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Kiley Dunbar has written another cracker of a story here, set in Cairn Dun, where the Highland Repair Shop is still going strong, and brings with it an unlikely situationship between two youngsters, and a little suspicion and angst between our main older characters, McIntyre and Ros, the owners of this fab repair shop.
I loved the relative innocence of Peaches, a young woman who has been sheltered from so much by an overprotective mother who really only wants the best for her baby.
Tie that in with the budding romance between her and Euan Sparks, a local lad who has returned to live with his grandfather, and the gentle sparks that fly there, and it makes for a lovely, slow-burning romance.
And the escapades of Jolyn and Shelly were a fun, brief interlude.
I also love how Kiley has added the SEND dimension through the story, with lil Jolyn, who has communication issues. As we were introduced to him in a previous book, it was great to get a little update on how he was getting on.
We get to learn about some of the April traditions and celebrations, and we’re treated to some recipes from Kiley at the end.

Wed or Alive: The BRAND NEW smart and hilariously funny rom-com from Portia MacIntosh for 2026 by Portia MacIntosh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I honestly loved this story, where I was convinced one thing was going to happen. I thought I KNEW the ending, but then – PLOT TWIST – and a curveball came and moved the target!
Whitney is in a funk. Her book idea isn’t selling, her agent is trying, but all she can get are ghostwriting gigs. Plus her love life is pretty bad, too.
JJ, her agent is trying hard, as one of her besties, to set her up.
Her other long-term bestie and flatmate, Andy, is away, and Whitney has a realisation that maybe he is the one for her.,.
Here is where the plot twist hits, and I won’t tell you what it is, but let’s just mention Cowboy, and Jake… a fountain, a proposal, a lot of lies and a bit of little too late honesty…
It all makes for a fantastic beach read!
Many Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

The Sunshine Teashop by Jaimie Admans
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh, what a lovely story to read, as I am on the comedown from a glorious holiday!
Dolly starts the story with a bang, and not a good kind. Set up to start a wonderful business with her best friend, a cafe, she finds herself betrayed in the worst possible way by both friend and boyfriend.
This is where the fun starts.
Stuck with no home, no family to support her and no other real friends to turn to, Dolly does whatever comes into her mind, and that is escaping, to anywhere, in the campervan of her ex-boyfriend. She finds herself in Thimblenouth, a little village up North, with fond memories attached.
I loved the entire story, her confused, panicked exit from her disaster of a life, to the slow-paced calm of the Yorkshire village.
Her unconventional meeting with Builder Reece and the way their friendship grows is a perfect example of a slow-burning romance.
Dolly loves nostalgic baking, and the way her little business venture from the campground grows is heartwarming, as she begins with a simple bake to soothe and creates sweet masterpieces that remind all who eat of fond memories.
I loved the little family she finds herself with, as the local gossips warm to her, and end up being her biggest supporters.
A story that warms you and has a real feel-good quality.

The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well, that is another brilliant piece of writing by the amazing Elizabeth Strout!
Each time I read one of her books, I feel like I have explored another layer of humankind…
Artie is our main character in this book, and it is set in the US with the backdrop of what is happening out there in the world, the troubles in Gaza and the Middle East, as well as a deep-rooted fear about what is happening within politics in the USA, without naming a specific, ‘ahem’, person.
He is a teacher, and as he teaches, he observes a great deal about the high school students he teaches.
With his calm demeanour, he alters the perceptions of certain students, despite having gone through a dark time personally.
Artie’s relationships with his students, colleagues, son Rob, and friends reveal different facets of his personality, and they could shine a light on any of us and our own thoughts.
I don’t really know how to describe my feelings about this book, only that it hit hard. There is a lot to digest and think about, considering what the world is like right now…

A French Fling for the Golden Gals by Judy Leigh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Judy Leigh has a knack for her words, and her stories featuring more mature heroines who live life to the fullest have quickly become books I reach for. A French Fling for the Golden Gals is another great example of one of these stories.
Maxine is sixty-one years old and retiring from her long-term job in a charity. It’s time to put herself first, though. As she embarks on the first celebration with her partner, she walks into her flat and finds him in flagrant with her best friend…
What follows is her decision to really think about what she wants, and one suggestion is to get away for a bit. She finds herself in a small village in Brittany, where she meets a wonderful community of both French locals and British people now calling the town of Plouvannec-sur-Mer their home.
Through this story, Maxine deals with a long-standing sense of grief and explores how to heal. And along the way, she supports others in healing, as well as finding out whether she is still capable of love or any kind of romantic affection.
The entire cast of characters is likeable, and I find myself wishing to take a long break somewhere like Plouvannec-sur-Mer, to ‘find myself’ too!
This follows another story, but can be read as a standalone.

Walking on Sunshine by Heidi Swain
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

And here is another beautiful summer read from the fantastic Heidi Swain!
Tilly is tasked with the difficult task of scattering her father’s ashes, alone, at a place she and her brother have the fondest of memories.
She travels to the heart of Suffolk, to a little village, Willowwell, and finds a small Air B’n’B for a few nights before planning on travelling to her brother, wherever he may be working at the time.
On arrival, she finds a stretch of woodland for sale adjoining a house, Fernside, which she used to dream about as a child.
But would she be able to buy this land and set up her dream business there?
Tilly meets some fantastic characters on her trip, including Constance, the owner of the house and woods, and a mysterious lawyer, James, who may just steal her heart… but things are never that straightforward.
Secrets emerge, or rather unmentioned information, which causes a clash of interests that could derail everything she has dreamed of.
I really enjoyed this emotive story, with a positive main character, and so much joy amid the confusion.

A blog tour read for next month! Review to follow!

Just a Name by Becky Monson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Imagine if you were gearing up for your wedding and at the last minute, your husband-to-be calls it off?
Not only are you in pieces about that, but you are up for a promotion at work, yet your boss insists you need time off, because you are tightly wound up, and you keep bumping into your ex’s best friend, who hates you.
That’s Holly’s situation.
Plus, she has a non-refundable honeymoon to take, but can’t change the name on the ticket, so she somehow finds herself talked into finding a guy with the same name as her ex so she can take this break.
I enjoyed listening to this, as the characters were easy to like, and the romance, well, I think I kinda knew where it would come from, but how it all happens is nicely done.

The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After reading The Help, I was very excited to read this. The Calamity Club is a LOOOONG book for anyone who finds anything over 300 pages a lot to read. At over 600 pages, it is quite a commitment, but totally worth it!
There are stories of two characters told in parallel in Mississippi, USA, in the 1930s. One is Meg, a young girl in an orphanage, treated awfully, but just praying her mama will be coming to get her out soon.
Then there is Birdie. She is a young woman, destined to be one of the old maids, because of a tragedy in her past that has rendered her barren.
The lives of these two characters intertwine as they navigate tricky times and find themselves embroiled in situations they never expected.
The 1930s were a tough time, with the remnants of slavery talk, the dry states, and alcohol being taboo, as well as the houses of ill repute that hid in plain sight. These aspects are brought into the story to layer it in a way that kept those 600+ pages turning!
I loved reading this, as it was a fantastic story and a bit of an education about what 1930s Mississippi was like
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books.

The Accidental Text by Becky Monson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a simple to listen to, entertaining story about a woman dealing with loss and finding comfort in the strangest of places.
Maggie loses her mother and struggles to come to terms with that loss. One thing that helps is her version of journaling: rather than writing it in a book, she texts it to her mum’s old phone.
Only the number no longer belongs to her mother…
I loved this not-quite-mistaken-identity story, as Maggie never knew someone could be receiving her texts, and the person on the other side ends up being the therapy she never knew she needed.
Chase is the cutest of guys, and how he handles Maggie’s texts is so sweet!
An easy read, with a great HEA.

My, my! 22 books read and listened to this month! You know that is a good vacation month, lol! Which one caught your eye?

March heralds the entrance of Spring, apparently…

It’s also a term fully in school with no other days out, so how did I go with my reading?

So, the whole submission thing didn’t go to plan; however, I am not too worried. In fact, I am getting my covers redesigned, will be self-publishing the three books, and will hopefully start writing again soon!

So I read and listened as best I could.

The Alchemist’s Secret by Clare Marchant
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I can’t believe I haven’t read one of Clare Marchant’s books before, because this was right up my street!
A dual-timeline mystery with two very strong female MCs, one in each era: the present and 1672.
Paige is back in her family home after a disastrous ‘marriage’ and busies herself with helping her father and investigating the provenance of a gruesome piece of art in their ancestral home.
Meanwhile, in 1672, we meet Jeanne and her sister Marie. Two French sisters were brought over with the marriage of one of them to the lord of the house, but their own situation is precarious.
I can’t write much about the plot because that’s not what a review is, but I will say I was fully invested in this story and in finding out the origins of the “Phaedra” painting and what it all meant.
I really felt for Jeanne, who, at a time of little understanding, was trying to deal with her own sexuality, as well as supporting a sister suffering huge mental health issues, and the upheaval they encountered when they were made to leave their home.
All I can say is ‘Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned’!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day by Jay Shetty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have often enjoyed Jay Shetty’s short motivational videos on various social media platforms, and many of his words have resonated with me, so I chose his book to be the first self-help book I listened to.
And I wasn’t disappointed.
Sure, there are lots of things I know I can’t or won’t do, but I have already found myself taking heed of some suggestions he has made regarding letting go of things I have no control over.
I’m a pretty positive, glass have full person, with a spiritual father, who has always recommended Simran, which is a type of meditation chant within our religion, Sikhism, and he’s also a trained yogi, so maybe I find some of what Jay suggesting a lot more achievable than those who aren’t already familiar with many of the ideals he discusses, but it was a fascinating listen, and with the PDF that came with it, to fill in and work on myself, I think it was a good investment.

The Mother of all Comebacks: Discover the deliciously relatable, laugh-out-loud funny and feel-good read for 2026! by Kathleen Whyman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a corker of a read! And I cannot believe I have read none of Kathleen Whyman’s books before today. This was soooooo relatable!
Becca is a woman of a certain age, making her way through the empty-nester years, with a less-than-satisfactory job, a rather boring husband, and an increasingly demanding mother.
She is the epitome of a woman stuck in the sandwich generation: those who are still caring for and bringing up children, with the added strain of caring for older parents who have their own needs.
I found myself immersed in a world where there are so many situations I find myself in, right now, as a 50-year-old woman, thinking about what my grown children need, as well as constant concern for ailing parents, and with that urge to want to do something different with my working life, but not having the courage or belief in myself that I could do anything else.
The difference is that I get on very well with my mum and mother-in-law, and my relationship is not in question, but even with a solid partnership, other things can rock the boat.
Becca finds herself living with her mother, Josephine, to care for her, despite a very fragile relationship with her, and then her daughter, Sophie, who has flown the nest, comes back, bringing equal stress.
A brilliant theme of reinvention becomes apparent: with support and encouragement from those close to her, she finds a renewed passion for her old love of journalism and writing, as well as for her own appearance. And then there is Rey… Who makes her realise she isn’t actually dead inside, or rather, down below!
Josephine is quite a character in herself, and I cannot look at hand cream now, without thinking of her and applying sparingly, to save my door handles!
I think this story touches on and explores many important themes that will resonate with many women out there. And now I can’t wait to read a few more of Kathleen’s books!

Most Wanted by Andi Osho
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A humorous, yet slightly crazy take on what a couple would do to buy a house in a trendy part of London, with a not-so-humorous ending.
The couple in question find themselves sinking into a life of crime as they navigate the property ladder, in a possibly far-fetched journey to the house of their dreams.
I enjoyed the story, but it wasn’t as much of a page-turner as the previous books.
Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for an ARC.

The Way I Loved You: The BRAND-NEW captivating and emotional romantic novel with unexpected, magical, time-bending twists, perfect reading for Spring 2026 by Fiona Lucas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book!
A kind of time travel, speculative romance that I really got my teeth into.
Jess and Luke are celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary, and somehow end up in a row that has Luke walking out. Unsure what happened, Jess falls asleep and wakes up on the same day, twelve years earlier. And again, and again, until she has relived the same date for each year that has passed up to the present.
With the opportunity to learn from her mistakes and better understand Luke, she takes it, hoping that when she returns to the present, she can avoid the heartache she caused.
I love a bit of reflection for romantic relationships, and Jess has to reflect on her own life, reactions, and behaviours to really understand where fractures appeared in her and Luke’s marriage.
An often emotional page turner of a book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for an ARC.

Deep Swimmers by Richard Robinson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Crime and espionage – not my usual go-to, but I was happy to read something different from my norm of culture, women’s fiction and romance!
Deep Swimmers is the fourth book in the Topaz Files series, and it was most definitely a gripping read that keeps the pages turning.
Since I hadn’t read the previous ones, I wasn’t privy to some of the earlier events that may have been referenced in Deep Swimmers, which did not detract from my enjoyment of this read.
Set in the 90s, with a tale of intrigue surrounding an elderly couple in Ireland, apparently committing suicide together… Or was it? Were they pushed?
That’s where the title Deep Swimmers comes from: those who may have had some connection to spy work but are no longer active are still recognised for the work they did.
The story may start there, but the reader is drawn into many more mysteries as connections between key characters and past events encroach upon their lives.
We have WW2 events entwined with more modern political issues in a delicate, but very clever way.
I really loved Jenny and Jones’ chemistry, and Mr Singh was a particular favourite!
If you love a bit of a mystery with espionage involvement, you will love this!

California Gold by Jodie Chapman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was an intricately woven story beginning in the 70s, when British Frank met Californian Chrissy, and they fell into a deep relationship, with its roots in a house they travelled to see: the House of Tomorrow, all glass and steel.
They end up back in England and manage to create a replica, named Mirage, which is a sight to behold, then the rest of the story follows them, through highs and lows, and introduces us to Beth, and siblings, Clover, Jesse and Alice.
There is tragedy, and then emotional disconnect, crossed wires, and the effects a moment’s choices have on future generations.
An emotional rollercoaster of a ride.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House, for an ARC.

The Bookshop by the Beach by J.C. Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I listened to this on Audiobook, and it was an easy listen. I found myself smiling to myself several times and had a few laugh-out-loud moments, too!
Libby runs a bookshop by the beach, aptly called the same, and it is a family business, run by her grandparents before her on the Isle of Man.
It’s a beautiful place, but unfortunately is not raking in the dosh, so she is at risk of losing it.
The things this girl goes through to keep her shop, I tell you! Well, I won’t tell you because you need to read it yourself!
There are crossed wires, hilarious moments excellently captured (Bonk Shop on the Beach, anyone?), romances that falter at the first hurdle, and some not-very-nice people (person) out there, but with her best friend, Freya, and some other great characters, Libby finds her way through her problems.
Another fantastic addition is the journals she finds belonging to her grandfather, which she reads in parallel with the happenings at the shop, giving her more gumption to continue her fight.
Great fun!

Ticket To Ride by Kay Bratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You know, Kay Bratt’s done it again with an amazing FIFTEENTH book in the Hart’s Ridge Series!
Taylor Grey is back with her tingling senses, with support from her husband Sam, when things get far too close to home for comfort.
Seeing crime and corruption within the folk who you expect to protect you is not what anyone wishes, but after the end of the last book, you know things are going to be deep and Ticket To Ride gives you that and more.
A missing person, a fugitive, a runaway; three different people but all ultimately connected through the wrongdoings of one person, and it takes Taylor and a little army behind her to solve the cases.
And there is emotion, lots of emotion. We don’t really hear much about Taylor’s family in this book, since there is so much going on, but this was a true page turner, and the end was brilliant – a lead up to more fab stories to come!

Would You Ask My Husband That by Kathleen Whyman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my second Kathleen Whyman book, and honestly, I am kicking myself for not finding her books sooner!
Would You Ask My Husband That? is a story about a couple and the differences between being a working mum and a working dad.
I won’t lie and say I didn’t feel seen, but oh my goodness, I felt laid bare with this book!
Sarah and Will are married, and both work at the same firm. He’s a director, and she is on the team there. A chance occurrence means that Will finds himself out of a job, and Sarah finds she can rectify their income deficit with a different role, but they have the kids to worry about.
That age-old situation for a mother where you feel you are giving no aspect of your life the full 100%. If you want to be there for your children, your career suffers. If you want to progress, your time with the family is compromised.
Only with Will at home, things should be a bit easier, right?
This is that possibly stereotypical but very realistic scenario where Dad is home, but acts like he is babysitting, and despite being at home all day, Sarah is still finding herself running ragged, cleaning messes, doing laundry and cooking batch meals…
And Will? He gets the green light from teachers and other mothers for being the caring dad, though he isn’t quite as hands on as they think.
And then he joins the Friday Fizz Club, and things go awry.
It is a comedic look at role reversal that I think many working mothers would read and nod their heads at, and though things are slowly worked out, I know there were plenty of times that I wanted to give Will a kick up the backside!
I was engrossed in listening to the story!

The Pledge: The nail-biting, escapist crime thriller from the half-million copy bestseller by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Having devoured the Nell Ward series, I was eager to find out what Sarah Yarwood-Lovett was going to write next, and this one, The Pledge, was another brilliant page-turning thriller!
Thea receives a mysterious invitation to somewhere, and when she arrives at an idyllic Caribbean island, with fellow guests being billionaires, famous folk, and her husband, she is confused and intrigued.
But as the group come to terms with why they have been gathered, a murder occurs, and sends them all into panic.
They all have secrets to hide, and motives… but Thea is determined to find out what went on. And more murders happen…
So many twists and turns kept me reading long into the night as I wanted to know who the murderer was, and why this was all happening! Fantastically done!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books for an ARC.

The Irish Midwife at War by Seána Tinley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved the first in this series, and I ADORED The Irish Midwife at War!
Seana Tinley has written another highly emotive, beautiful story about the handywomen in Belfast. This time, we follow the story of Kathleen, who is introduced to the art of being a handywoman at the tender age of 16, and explore her life as she faces the routine experiences of a young woman until the world is embroiled in World War 2. She steps up and is recognised in more ways than just being a good handywoman,
The exploration of her romantic life, as well as long-hidden secrets coming to the surface, makes this a real page-turner, and I couldn’t stop reading one day, but I was so sad that it had finished. I eagerly await another story in the same vein.
Many Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC.

You are the Fuhrer’s Unrequited Love by Jean-Noël Orengo
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I have to admit I requested this book after reading the blurb, hinting at historical fiction based upon some truths about a fascinating pair of characters.
The writing style read more like an academic study than fiction, and I found it very hard to stay engaged in the story.
It will be for others, but unfortunately it wasn’t for me.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc.

I’m on the blog tour for this early next month so stop by for the review then!

Pretty Evil by Zoe Rosi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book when it first came out and was extremely excited to listen to the audiobook version! Narrated by Frankie Porter, I was immersed in the world of Camilla, all over again, and it was brilliantly read!
Oh, my days!
When I read the blurb, I thought, “Why not? Sounds like an intriguing read.”
Well, intriguing is perhaps not quite the word to describe it.
Hugely dark and (excuse my language, but) bloody fantastic!
Camilla, our protagonist, is a woman with a past so deeply ingrained that it’s almost hollowed out any other emotion in her.
Wronged as a child, growing up, and abused as a young woman, she casts herself in the role of vigilante for womankind, wreaking havoc and her own version of revenge upon unsuspecting predators
I found myself strangely aroused, a bit disturbed, and definitely sympathetic towards the woman with what appears to be no emotion, but whose heart is feeling again.
Laced with sex, gore, and much suspense, I was kept on my toes, reading the book almost in one sitting, and I truly didn’t predict the ending either.
What a dark, kinky web the author has woven…

My Neighbor’s Secret by Lauren Rowe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Why do I not learn from my mistakes?
Listening to a bit of a saucy book while driving, with my daughter in the car!
This was a lighthearted, fun, kinky story about two people brought together in strange circumstances and then finding a rather novel way to solve their problems.
Think of students and people with debts, then add a bit of online enjoyment and voyeurism into it… a bit Only Fans, and two rather hot and horny people…
I have to say it was a bit far-fetched in some ways, but absolutely hilarious and, as I mentioned before, saucy! And I don’t think I will ever think of puppet shows in the same way…

17 books this month! Which caught your eye?