But I Smile Anyway…

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

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

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

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

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

Architecti by Ruby Roe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Catch the blog tour post tomorrow!

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

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

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

How has August finished so fast?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Did I write?

Around 1k words. Not much, but something.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?