But I Smile Anyway…

How has August finished so fast?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Did I write?

Around 1k words. Not much, but something.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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?