But I Smile Anyway…

And so the holidays are here, finally!

School finished. My big news is that I have stepped down from my management role and will be solely a teacher in Nursery next academic year. A little less stress, no team to manage on top of the day-to-day work of a teacher. Yes, there will be a little pay drop, but I think my peace of mind is more important!

We had our Nursery Graduation, and I have two intakes, a morning and afternoon set of children. They are so, so different, and each ceremony was unique, but I must admit to enjoying the afternoon one a tad more as the children were so huggy, and we danced! As always, parents were very generous, and I have new notebooks, chocolates and pens galore!

Over the month, there have been other things happening, like going to the MeetCute Book Festival on 4th July, where I was a part of my first bookish panel! I went to a birthday party for an old school friend I haven’t seen since I was 7. We also had a wedding party to attend.

One of the highlights was the RNA Conference, which I attended this weekend… hence the late post. I spent the weekend in the company of wonderful writer friends, old and new, and particularly special was to be with Lucy Mitchell and Shelley Wilson for the weekend, blog buddies who are also authors! We learned so much, and danced like crazy on the Saturday. If you want to see more, you need to check my Instagram…

On the plus side, something rather exciting did happen on the Friday, but I cannot say anything right now. If anything comes of it, I will share further! All I can ask of you delightful Peeps of mine is to please keep your fingers crossed for me!

More stalling on the book front for me – sorry! But, again, it is such a hectic time of year! August. That will be my writing month, you’ll see!

My reading slowed because I read rather than listened, as I found it hard to read for long periods in the heatwave we were experiencing, and that put my July reading list behind! I panicked, but finally got back on track! But did I manage to read all the July ARCS? Er no, but I am catching up!

Thank goodness the holidays started, because I have a LOT of reading to catch up on!

So I read and listened as best I could.

A Very Inconvenient Christmas by Becky Monson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A meet-cute that starts in a rather tense situation but ends with the two MCs, Nora and Cole, sent off into a parallel world powered by Christmas, which forces them to rethink their opinions on the festive season and on each other.
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this, especially as we were going through heatwaves here in the UK! It certainly cooled me down, hearing about the cool weather and snow, and the romantic build-up comfortably warmed me!

Facial Recognition by Jennifer Peel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gracie is a successful salon owner and meets a client for a treatment who is someone she recognises from her past: Brooks, the love of her life.
Thing is, he never knew how she felt about him as a teenager, and now he is back, dating her nemesis and looking hot as heck!
Gracie has been on many blind dates, hoping to spark some sort of reaction, but none have been forthcoming. However, the voice in her head has a LOT to say every time she is in contact with Brooks.
A thoroughly engaging and fun-to-listen-to romance.

The Simp: A Novel Without a Hero by Roshan Sethi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It took me a while to finish this book, and I usually tear through my reading…
The story of Raj, a wannabe Hollywood actor of Indian descent who lies to get a job as a personal assistant with a famous Hollywood family, didn’t quite hit it for me.
There is dry humour, satire, and many issues covered, with a thread of Vanity Fair running through, but I didn’t gel with it, unfortunately.

Seven Days on the Italian Island: The BRAND NEW novel of romance, secrets and sunshine from Victoria Springfield for 2026 by Victoria Springfield
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another gorgeous dual timeline story from Victoria Springfield, this time set on the island of Capri.
You have a famous fashion house, Tellini, celebrating their centenary, and a hunt for a mysterious woman who became infamous as she accidentally gate-crashed a photo that became an iconic print.
That woman is Tanya, who really doesn’t want to be associated with the fashion house, the photo, or the island. However, a little persuasion from her daughter, who discovers the truth, leads her back to the island of Capri, a place where she experienced genuine friendship, true love, and tragedy.
What can I say?
Well, I want to visit Capri now. I always find myself wanting to visit where Victoria sets her books!
And I do love a multiple POV story, which this is, 100%, as well as being a dual timeline.
There is a second-chance romance, as well as mystery and intrigue, on top of more romance in unexpected areas.
I raced through this story and cannot wait for another book from the author!

The Baby Plan by Emma Bennet
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Baby Plan is a short book, but boy, does it pack a punch.
The essence is a romance, but one that blossoms out of an enormous tragedy.
Sophie is pootling along in her life in London when she gets horrifying news about her sister in Brighton.
Finding herself literally holding the baby when she arrives to extremely sad news, Sophie has to navigate her own life, now entwined with that of a baby, and try to unravel the mysteries of her estranged sister, not least who the father is.
Samson is shocked one night when an old fling of his arrives at his doorstep with a baby she claims is his. After absorbing the news, he attempts to meet her, only to find her no longer alive, and a prickly sister holding a child who supposedly is his.
I loved both main characters, and though there was a teeny bit of conflict, it was minor. Instead, we could concentrate on the emotions of the journey they both travel.
The way Bennet navigates to a very satisfactory conclusion is perfect, and I was happy to read a book that was easy to read but filled with potent feelings, too.

The Layover by Beth Reekles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved listening to this one – a real mix of grumpy/sunshine, a bit of forced proximity and some good old-fashioned revenge!
Gemma is off to be the Maid of Honour at her best friend’s destination wedding, but she has a bit of an agenda, and it is not a positive one.
Then we meet Leon, the bride’s brother. He’s desperately trying to find the groom-to-be’s redeeming features to write in his speech, left at the last minute as he heads to the wedding.
Finally, there is Francesca. the groom’s best friend, but she thinks there may be something more than friendship, and she wants to let him know before he makes a mistake.
All three are on a late flight out that gets delayed and are stranded at Orly Airport for many hours. They bicker, argue, and uncover the real reasons behind each of their bitter thoughts about the upcoming nuptials.
I had so many guesses about what was going to be the outcome, and plenty of them were totally wrong! But this was such an entertaining listen!

The Secret of the Lantern Keepers by Jenni Keer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jenni Keer weaves such magic within her words, and she has certainly struck gold again here, with this new story, which is the first of a trilogy about the Averly Sisters.
The first sets the tone, with three sisters, all sent on an intriguing mission, as set out in their father’s will, and the story concentrates on the eldest sister, Edith.
Edith ends up in an asylum, Green Briar, of her own will, to investigate a specific murder that her father could never solve, being the armchair detective that he was.
She has a gift, something not many people are aware of, and it is both a boon and a bonus, given what she can see because of it, and that is how she is expected to solve her specific mystery.
With a false backstory and a fake husband, Edith finds out some pretty gruesome secrets, as well as finding that she may just have feelings for a certain doctor…
I was enthralled throughout the story and didn’t want it to end. Then, when I got to the end, I just wished the next story was already there for me to read!
A fabulous historical romance with real fantastical elements and realism.

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was whisked away into a bookish world as I listened to this beautiful, fantastical dual-timeline story, based in Dublin, with bits in London and France. If you love a little conspiracy theory surrounding certain classic authors, this would be up your street. The Bronte sisters, in particular Emily, are the main focus.
Opaline is a headstrong woman from the early 1900s. She is being coerced into getting married by her mother and brother, and runs away. Her travels take her to France, where she begins a journey entwined with the literary world and a search for a lost manuscript. She ends up in Dublin, running a magical bookshop, and her story grows increasingly complex as it unfolds.
At present, we have two POVs: Martha, a young Irish woman running away from an abusive marriage, and Henry, a British researcher looking for a discovery to base his research paper on.
The way the story entwines and the mysteries kept me totally engrossed, and I finished listening to the book over two days as I travelled up and down the country, stuck in traffic!

The Freshman Parents by Ko Porteous
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I cannot explain just how much I enjoyed reading this as a woman of a certain age.
The story covers two single parents whose daughters are off to university, and the all-encompassing worry that surrounds that, from two very different perspectives.
The story begins with a Facebook group-style chat for parents whose children are going to university for the first time, where our two main characters meet and clash.
Heather is a character I can relate to (not the single-parent bit, though!). A mother who only wants the best for her child, but as the sole caregiver so far, she finds it hard to let go totally.
Scott is a single father who feels he has equipped his daughter with everything she needs to be independent and a true life decision-maker for herself.
They clash over mattress toppers at first, then, when the girls start university and are in the same accommodation block, tensions simmer as the two parents meet.
There is midlife, and then there is MIDLIFE. These two are both there, and it is fantastic to read how they navigate their different parenting styles and the needs of their children, who grow close and have to spend more time together.
Slowly, layers are unravelled, and you get to see the true reason they parent the way they do, and there is a bit of an enemies-to-lovers romance going on.
Heather and Scott’s characters go on a journey as they learn to live and love a little again.
I was invested the whole way through, and loved the little Facebook updates which echo the concerns of many parents as their children leave home for the first time, as well as giving a bit of a giggle with some questions and answers.

The Matcha Maker Café by Lily Chen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There’s a cafe specialising in Matcha products, a current fave of mine; a bookshop nearby; a brooding MMC; a troubled FMC; a wonderful older couple; some beautiful friendships; as well as a rather nasty woman, cast as the landlord, all coupled with wonderful romance! What’s not to love?
Sasha has a beautiful business going in her small village; a Matcha cafe alongside a side hustle of Matcha-making. Her superpower, of being able to see the romantic future of her matcha-drinking customers, brings a special vibe to the cafe. So, matcha reading? It’s like tea leaf reading, but instead of the leaves, she reads the bubbles of the matcha as she whisks.
Then she literally bumps into Ben, a rather stern but handsome fellow, covering him in manure-scented water as she was watering her hanging baskets!
Not quite a meet-cute, but the catalyst, nonetheless. There is grumpy sunshine as a trope, woven heavily within the story.
I did enjoy the premise and the story. The only reason it is not 5-star is that I wish there was a little more romance build-up until the result.
Sasha deserves to find love, like her clients, and Ben seems to know what he wants, but Sasha’s woman-made barriers stall the romance.
And I wanted a little more depth to Sasha’s character, as she was the focus.
I loved some of the side characters, too, and hope they might be featured in future novels.

Love at First Latte by Sarah Saville
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was another great listen, and amazingly it was free on Audible!
A cute story with a sprinkling of spice, so if you want purely wholesome, you might be surprised.
The story follows a famous nepo baby actress, Lee, who disappears for a while after being sidelined after her latest audition.
She ends up in Scotland of all places, and finds herself wet and bedraggled, but not for long, as a knight in shining armour arrives to help her dry off, before disappearing.
She somehow manages to get a job at a local cafe and does a great job of disguising herself as Natalie (so she thinks), and for the first time in her life, she feels like she is living a normal life.
Of course, her knight ends up being her employer, so there is plenty of tension and chemistry because, did I say? He is rather easy on the eye, with a great Scottish accent!
There are twists and turns as Natalie tries to hide herself, and the journey of the two of them finally hitting it off is great, with plenty of ups and downs.
But is the call of Hollywood too strong?
That I will leave you to listen and find out!

Secrets Among the Spires by Fiona Radcliffe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A simple, more mature romance set in Oxford.
T.W.: addiction, alcoholism
Clara has lived in Oxford her whole life and is the reverend at a college there. Tom is new to Oxford and sings in the local choir. Both are of a certain age, with their own life issues.
Clara is a sweet woman with so much to give to her congregation and her friends, and Tom is a bit of a lost soul with a past that he is not sure how to deal with, open up about, and process.
This story shows how their relationship develops and how they overcome hurdles.
I had overlooked the fact that this was a Christian romance, but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story.
It was an easy read, with not much thinking required.

Lost Secrets of the Scottish Castle by Jane Lovering
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve enjoyed previous reads by Jane Lovering, so I requested this without reading the blurb, and I have to say I loved the little time-slip surprise!
Pax has been dragged to Dunaire Castle by her brother, Lennox, who has bought the castle, seeing as it was a part of their heritage. Filled with ideas of renovating it and turning it into a hotel, and somehow reclaiming their ancestral home, he doesn’t realise Pax has disappeared.
And she does, in the most surreal way!
Falling down stairs and ending up in 18th-century Scotland with four others from the present, trapped in the past, Pax learns so much about her own history, and ends up… well, I shall not say because I’m not about spoilers!
There is romance, but it is very slow; however, the entire premise of the story kept me turning the pages, and I finished this in a day!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

Excellent Women by Barbara Pym
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to this and thoroughly enjoyed the life of Mildred, an ordinary woman in the 50s, always there to support others. She finds herself embroiled in the lives of other ordinary women, all of whom are particularly excellent, as she goes about her days.
Mildred is not old, nor young. She is unmarried, and the people around her who she knows assume that of her. This book helps to break those illusions and shows her, as well as the other characters, in their most excellent form.
I listened to the story with pleasure and think I need to add some more Barbara Pym books to my list!

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

How is it already the end of June? That is half of 2026 done!

So… it’s been another busy one at school. The build-up to the end of term is always huge. We have the prep of the new classes for next year, and for the Early Years side, which starts a lot earlier than the rest of the school, as we have to accept applications to school, as well as nursery, then there is form filling, and working out classes, who will be where, which staff will be where… and report writing. I managed to do the lion’s share of report writing in the half term, but there has been plenty of other preparation to keep me busy!

And… another BIG thing. My (Not So) Lil Man turned 21! Like, seriously? How does that happen so fast? He is, with God’s blessing, a happy, healthy soul, with a good job, and (for the most part!) a sensible lad, and we couldn’t be more proud of him!

Plus… Lil Princess finished her A-level exams and had her final ever prom! So, now it is the wait for results, and a time for her to decide what to do with her life. She is hoping to sign up for an apprenticeship next week, and has started her driving lessons… my baby is growing up!

We have also had a few losses again within family and friends, and there were at least 2 funerals that the family needed to attend, which also made life a little delicate, as memories arose from our big loss from last year…

I have been trying to push my book babies, but honestly, with all the above happening, it hasn’t been that easy.

Oh, and how can I forget the HEATWAVE! Honestly, sitting in a classroom with 20/30 irate 3-4-year-olds is not fun! We have sweltered, and I just found out there are a few more days like that coming next month… God help me!

So I read and listened as best I could.

Just a Girl by Becky Monson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this instalment in the Just a series by Becky Monson, revisiting old friends (characters) and getting to know some acquaintances (other characters) much better!
This focuses on Quinn, a plus-size TV Anchor who doesn’t feel she deserves to be loved for who she is because of how she looks. It doesn’t help that her mother is always trying to ‘help’ with constant reminders of how she could lose weight, as well as rather nasty emails from a viewer.
Then she meets Brit Henry, who seems to like her… until they find out they will be working together, and he is her new boss… And she hasn’t told him a rather embarrassing work-related secret!
Lots of angst and fun, as well as feeling.

The Last to Know by Laura Jane Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have enjoyed all of Laura Jane Williams’ previous books, so to read this was a no-brainer.
A little different to some of her previous stories, this one focuses on two very different women. CJ, who lives in Lisbon and is a single mother, is living with a cousin and his husband, managing an apartment complex and Ash, who has come away from life in the UK, with possible heartbreak and a need for a reset. She is staying at the complex, and the two clash horribly, then seem to go for the same guy.
But you can feel the chemistry crackling somewhere else. Previously, having any feelings for another woman had not even been given the time of day. Now, something else is happening for them both.
I loved Ash’s line about not loving men or women, but loving people.
A story of finding out where true happiness is.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House, and Cornerstone for an ARC.

All Expenses Paid by Zoe Rosi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Some people really know how to write gritty, dark thrillers, and Zoe Rosi is 100% one of them!
It’s not a read or listen for the faint-hearted, I have to say.
All Expenses Paid takes a very extreme look at social media and the lives of some influencers.
Debbie is one of those influencers, pootling along with a decent follower count and an obsession with her likes and comment numbers, constantly comparing herself to others, including one of her good friends, Amelia.
An invitation for what looks like a gorgeous holiday in a distant, exotic location, with the opportunity for lots of content, and a chance to earn some good money, is too much for her to say no to, so she, along with Amelia, heads off to what she discovers is the much darker, more gruesome side of influencing and big money.
I found myself inwardly flinching as I listened to the story, and it really made me wonder… is there really stuff like this behind the content of some ‘influencers’, or is it just a very dark exaggeration for fiction’s sake? Either way, it was disturbing but, in a weird way, interesting.
Hats off to the author and the narrator, who kept me listening!

My Friend’s Husband by Rupa Mahadevan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After reading Nine Dolls, last year, reading this was a simple decision for me.
Rupa Mahadevan writes brilliantly crafted domestic thrillers and creates nuanced, fragile, damaged characters with great skill.
The protagonist, Clara, is all the above. Damaged, hugely, through experiences, and fragile as a result.
Roshini is her lifeline, her buoy in a sea of negativity and misunderstanding. When Roshini disappears, Clara is thrown into a huge tailspin.
There were so many threads to this story, and the twists and turns to reach the conclusion were so well written, I was totally unaware of the ending until it was revealed!

Hungry Eyes by Dawn O’Porter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think a lot of us have an unconscious relationship with food. Some are minor. You eat to live. Sustenance, that is it.
Some of us have memories embedded deep within, relating to food, meals, and certain dishes. Memories that mould our relationship with grub.
Dawn O’Porter explores her own seesaw relationship with food, and how it affected her health, physically and mentally, and how it shaped so much of her life, even now, as she feels the most stable she has ever felt.
This was a raw memoir, peppered with some real emotion and seasoned with the best recipes, nostalgic, with modern twists, that I am sure most people would relate to.

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

This is the series that really got me into UK cosy crime, and it is still keeping me as hooked as the first book!
The Nosy Parker in question is Jodie Parker, a past police officer, current caterer, wife to DI Nathan Withers, and somehow a murder sleuth!
Okay, so it’s not everywhere she goes, but somehow, once or twice a year, she finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation. So much so that the local police force, knowing her background and excellent deductive skills, has unofficially got her on their books!
And it appears that nowhere is sacred! Even her honeymoon.
It starts a bit unconventionally anyway, as Jodie’s mother and daughter, along with her dog, Germaine, accompany them. They are at the soft opening of a new sustainable luxury resort on one of the Cornish Isles, and though there are some questionable characters, everything is fine. Until it isn’t.
Find someone with a grudge or motive, or possibly several people, and some inclement weather, and you are in for a treat!
I love how there are comedic moments throughout, as well as the real feel of traditional whodunnits of the past, meaning that though there is murder, there is also lightness to it.
I really do enjoy these stories, and long may they continue!

Marry Me in Seahaven Bay by Nicola May
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was swept right back into the world of Rita Jory and the community in Seahavem Bay with this second book in the series.
Rita is a woman of a certain age, a widow with two grown children and a fledgling business started after the death of her husband. The wellness retreat has been well received by the locals and those who have stayed, and Rita’s romance with the neighbour, who also has a bit of a complicated connection with her late husband, is blossoming.
In the first book, we hear so many secrets, and though most are accepted, there are still other little things coming out of the woodwork through book two.
First, an ex-wife appears, then Rita discovers something about herself…
All with the retreat needing to be used for a wedding, a new band of guests with their own issues, and an intruder who threatens to put the kibosh on the whole site and business!
So much going on!
I loved seeing what the original characters were up to, and I love Teo, Rita’s husband’s son from another relationship, who treats Rita like his own mother. Rita certainly goes through the wringer, again, losing another loved one, but gaining many more in the process
If you love stories with family at the heart, and a gorgeous village setting, then you won’t be disappointed!

Love Lindisfarne by Kimberley Adams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have been eyeing up Kimberley Adams’s books for a while, and I got a chance to listen to the audiobook of Love Lindisfarne. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed at all!
The story of Ellie, jilted, not quite at the altar, in London, gets away, to the Isles in Northumberland, namely Lindisfarne, to lick her proverbial wounds in private, but also to help with some animals at a sanctuary there.
Life is at a different pace from what she is used to, and it is a world away from her usual work. Armed with her phone so she can stay in touch with her group of friends and family, and a woefully under-packed suitcase, she arrives dramatically, which signals exactly how the rest of her stay will go.
Ellie really finds herself through this story, and even though it is a bit cut off from the world, I fancy a trip to Lindisfarne, too!
She also makes some great new friends to add to her circle, a new four-legged pal, Nacho, and one or two romantic interests.
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this, and Colleen Prendergast’s narration was 100% on point!
I know I will be adding the next lot of books to my ever-growing TBR!

The Echo of Lost Stories by Victoria Scott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a gorgeous dual-timeline story that had me hooked from the off.
Set partly in Victorian London and modern-day London, the story centres around philanthropy and an interesting connection to a famous Victorian author and one of his most successful novels.
Isabelle, or Belle, keeps a set of journals about her life in the 1800s, as well as a recount of a rather otherworldly event she experienced, and then buries her writing somewhere so it won’t be found easily…
Nearly 200 years later, Emily, a history lecturer, is given access to the newly unearthed journals in a crumbling old house in Cheapside, and the discovery sends her on an emotional journey of her own.
There is so much to unpick here, from second chances to personal transformations, as well as bringing to the forefront the importance of certain historical places and their origins.
I don’t want to rehash the story, but I will say that this is one of my favourite Victoria Scott books!

Mr Sidhu’s Post Office by Amman Brar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I requested this book even before reading the synopsis because the name Mr Sidhu jumped out at me. Sidhu being my mother’s maiden name, and the lead that it would be a Sikh at the forefront of the story had me requesting before anything else.
I was somewhat aware of the Horizon scandal, but not in much detail, so I was intrigued to see how it played out in the story, too.
Mr Sidhu, Sukdev, or Dave/David to the British locals around his post office in Richmond, has worked hard his whole life to serve the community and provide for his family. He hails from rural Punjab, and, not having any interest in the usual Jatt-puna of working the ancestral land, he concentrates on his studies, and with the backing of his father, Sukhdev finally ends up in England, a place hailed as some kind of money-making heaven by many back home. Along with his wife, he built up his Richmond-based business while living in Hounslow, and when she passed, he continued at the shop as the Postmaster, with Rose at the shop till.
Mr Sidhu becomes caught up in the PO scandal when money begins to disappear from his accounts, recently upgraded to the new Post Office software. Here we see how his family react to what is happening, as well as how they need to find someone to blame.
Rose becomes an important presence in Mr Sidhu’s life when he thought he would have been sitting back, playing with the grandchildren he and his wife always thought their children, Meenu and Raju, would have provided, with a solid business to pass on to the next generation.
I loved how the softly, softly nature of Mr Sidhu mirrors many of the elders in our community. Always present, always supportive, but not interested in causing any trouble, even if they suffer difficulties.
I found Meenu very annoying. I wanted to shake her. Questioning her gentle father, unable to stand by him when he needed her and disappearing at a time he really needed her.
Raju’s character was also interesting. A product of two traditional individuals, who allowed both their children to find their own paths, Raju works as an actor, and I love that he doesn’t give up.
Rose is just lovely. David’s (Mr Sidhu) real support through a tough time is proof that there are people out there who look beyond colour and culture and see the goodness inside.
The story is gentle yet aggressive. A journey to satisfaction, marked by delays and setbacks, and the special delivery of minor racism. This was a brilliant read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ, Juniper, for an ARC.

Has Anyone Seen My Husband? by Kathleen Whyman
My rating 5 of 5 stars

Oh my, I had sooo many thoughts and predictions as I read/listened to this, and I wasn’t far wrong, but also I wasn’t right either!
Marie is married to Scott, and they have a gorgeous little girl. Scott also has children from a previous marriage, but Marie has yet to meet her stepchildren, and create a blended family that she thinks would be great for her own daughter, who has no siblings. Only Scott has the ex-wife from h*ll, determined to place a wedge into their chances of happiness and constantly placing demands on his time.
Marie is hoping that they can start trying for baby #2, so her own little one has a sibling at least.
Marie is also a wedding dress designer, and has plenty of brides-to-be dramas of her own to sort out along with home life, as well as finding out the dishy GP she has taken a bit of a secret fancy to, is one of her client’s brothers, and chance means they keep on meeting.
All this along with her French mother and aunt who like to cause their own mischief, as well as a cousin who is firmly on her side, but has her own opinions.
I was fully ensconced in Marie’s life, rooting for her, cheering her along, and maybe, just maybe, gently encouraging her to explore ‘things’ with that dishy GP!
A fab book, a great listen and a brilliant story!

The Wedding Jinx by Becky Monson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mila is a jinx. Well, she’s convinced herself she is a jinx with weddings, having messed up the seven weddings she’s been in the wedding party for.
Convincing her best friend that she cannot be a part of her wedding party is the big thing here. Mila doesn’t want to ruin her BFF’s special day.
And also, she cannot be around Grayson, her boss. Because, well, she seems to have a boss thing, too.
Lots of tension, close proximity, and chemistry bubbling over, as well as plenty of giggles!
I had fun reading/listening to this one!

I am on the blog tour for this gorgeous read in mid-July, so keep your eyes peeled for the review!

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

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?