Book Review - A Year at the Star and Sixpence by Holly Hepburn

I loved this book and can't wait to read more from the Star and Sixpence series. Utterly charming this is a real feel-good read with great characters - I just wish the Star and Sixpence was real and I could pop in for a Gingerbread Martini.

First published in the UK: December 2016

When sisters Nessie and Sam inherit a little pub in a beautiful country village they jump at the chance to escape their messy lives and start afresh. But when they arrive at the Star and Sixpence, it's not quite what they imagined - it's pretty much derelict, ruined by debts, and it's going to be a huge job to get it up and running again. But they are determined to make the best of this new life and they set about making the pub the heart of the village once again. Their first year at the Star and Sixpence won't be easy, though nothing worth doing ever is. 

But when the sisters' past comes back to haunt them, they start to think that the fresh start they needed is very far away indeed…

My review
I loved this book but then it did have all my favourite ingredients - country village setting, love interest in the form of a hot single dad with cute kid, strong female lead characters and entrepreneurial spirit. It was also favourite type of narrative - charmingly innocent (ie romance rather than sex) but realistically modern (ie one of the characters has a PR/celebrity background).

Sisters Nessie and Sam inherit a little pub in a beautiful country village, giving them the chance to escape their messy lives and start afresh. Both sisters are extremely likeable characters, with Sam a feisty, creative, carefree city-girl whereas Nessie is warm, calm, practical and home-loving. Aside from the sisters there's other great characters in the form of the villagers including nosy, self-righteous post-mistress Franny, glamorous ex-starlet Ruby, brooding blacksmith Owen and cute kid Luke.

The story is really cleverly written split into four distinctive parts relating to the four seasons and a special seasonal event at the pub, ie a Halloween party or the Valentine's Celebrity Chef Dinner. This means that the story moves on and the characters develop but at a realistic pace, unlike some books where characters seemingly fall in love in the space of days/weeks, and without the unnecessary filler either. Although apparently this book was originally four separate novellas that have collected together as one for the first time - which makes sense.

Probably because I would love to run my own small business, I loved backdrop of the pub and the sisters learning a new trade and turning around the fortunes of the place (despite local opposition) with a variety of creative, entrepreneurial ideas. But, I guess the main story is that of family and relationships with both sisters surprised to find love again after previous disastrous relationships. Of course neither romances run smoothly with Sam's predictably a passionate, tumultuous, short-lived love affair and Nessie's more of a will-they-they-won't-they dilemma.

I can't wait to read more of author, Holly Hepburn, and in particular the Star and Sixpence series to see what happens next to the characters of Little Monkham.

Follow author Holly Hepburn on Twitter at @HollyH_Author.

Book Review - The Daughter by Michelle Frances

Whilst not a typical twisty/turny psychological thriller I would definitely recommend this the third novel from author (and TV producer) Michelle Frances.

First published in the UK: August 2019

Getting pregnant as a teenager was never part of Kate's plan, but when it happens she's determined to do right by her daughter, showing her the love she never had as a child. Life as a single mother is hard, sometimes impossible, but it only brings Kate and Becky closer together. By the time Becky is making her own way in the world as a tenacious trainee journalist, Kate couldn't be prouder.

But when the unthinkable happens, Kate's life is changed forever. Desperately trying to understand, Kate stumbles across a story Becky was researching.

Is it possible that this cruel twist of fate wasn't an accident? The Daughter is a gripping, powerful story of a mother's courage and devotion, by the number one bestselling author of The Girlfriend.

My review
Overall I enjoyed this book even though it wasn't quite what I was expecting. 

The reason I love this genre is the chilling twists and turns, the gripping suspense and the mind-boggling race to try (often unsuccessfully) to work it all out before the main character. I've not read any of Michelle Frances' other books but this one certainly wasn't like that - in fact for a psychological thriller it was quite predictable. It also bore more than a passing similarity to the Erin Brockovich story - a similarity which was even referenced by the main character.

That said it was really well written and the characters were expertly developed and brought to life throughout the book. So, despite the small negatives I really liked this book because I absolutely loved the main character Kate and became totally invested in her story and fate. Kate is the ultimate underdog - an intelligent and passionate woman full of self doubt following a teenage pregnancy which saw the direction of her life change to focus solely on her daughter and her needs at the expense of all else. 

This was also written in one of my favourite styles where the chapters alternate - in this case between the current day, pre 'the accident' and the past. The past was largely irrelevant to the story but seeing as I fell in love with Kate I guess it was probably a large part of that.

So whilst not a typical psychological thriller I would definitely recommend it and would like to try another from this author.

Visit author Michelle Frances' website to find out more at michellefrancesbooks.com.

Book Review - The Magnificent Mrs Mayhew by Milly Johnson

I'm delighted to share my review of the new novel from award-winning British author and Queen-of-Chicklit Milly Johnson. This is a charmingly well-written book with strong characters and a totally modern story line featuring, Sophie, the loyal wife of a rising politician whose affair has made tabloid news. 

Many thanks to The Bookbag for giving me the opportunity to read this book direct from the publishers.

First published in the UK: July 2019

Sophie Mayhew looks like she has the perfect life. Wife of rising political star John F Mayhew, a man who is one step away from the top job in the government, her glamour matches his looks, power, breeding and money. But John has made some stupid mistakes along the way, some of which are threatening to emerge. Still, all this can still be swept under the carpet as long as Sophie 'the trophy' plays her part in front of the cameras.

But the words that come out of Sophie’s mouth one morning on the doorstep of their country house are not the words the spin doctors put in there. Bursting out of the restrictive mould she has been in since birth, Sophie flees to a place that was special to her as a child, a small village on the coast where she intends to be alone.

But once there, she finds she becomes part of a community that warms her soul and makes her feel as if she is breathing properly for the first time. Sophie knows she won't be left in peace for long. Now she must decide: where does her real future lie?

My reviewI liked this book. Whilst not necessarily a page-turner, this was a thoroughly enjoyable heart-warming read from the Queen of chick lit, Milly Johnson.

Despite being a best-selling author I've not actually read one of Milly's books before but she writes in a very pure, understated and realistic way which I really like. It's hard to explain but she describes romance rather than sex, makes a suggestion and ignites your imagination to develop the characters and ideas yourself. Her style is also humorous with in this case is added to by the presence of stereotypical politicians, an adorably cute small boy, and busy-body parishioners.

That said the charming narrative is combined with a totally modern and relatable storyline. In fact it addresses some fairly heavy issues such as emotional abuse and bullying but in a light-hearted way. When a kiss and tell story appears in the tabloids, emotionless Sophie Mayhew, wife of a rising politician, is expected to publicly stand by her husband. Instead she flees to a small Yorkshire village where she reinvents herself as 'Pom' a down-on-her-luck French woman. Why is it that every fictional village has a hot-but-he-doesn't-know-it single guy often with a philanthropic job (in this case a vicar) just waiting to fall in love with the mysterious newcomer? Not that I'm complaining as it's a formula that I love - I just wish that the same was true of real life villages (aka the one where I live). Anyway as Pom, Sophie gets a taste of how life could be - a life of kindness, friendship, freedom and even love. But, how long can she keep up pretences and which life (or man) will she choose?

The main characters are fascinating, probably because their characters really develop throughout the book. For example, at the start, the character of Sophie totally fits her nickname of ‘Sophie-the-Trophy’ as in she looks good but there is not much else going on. But, then you realise that she is actually a vibrant, rebellious, creative, strong female who has been ground down by her husband and family to the point of ignoring her own needs and wants. There’s also the hot-vicar who is bringing up his son alone after a whirlwind and totally unsuitable romance, his strong direct-speaking sister trying to move on after a bad marriage, and a sullen teenager mourning her mother.

With its short chapters this book is also a really easy read. I would definitely recommend it, as there’s really nothing not to like but it is more easy-reading rather than something that’s really thought-provoking, gripping or unique.

Follow Milly Johnson on Twitter @millyjohnson or find out more at millyjohnson.co.uk.

Book Review - Tell Me Your Secret by Dorothy Koomson

A journalist survives a weekend with The Blindfolder, only for him to start killing his past victims ten years later. The new psychological thriller from best selling author, Dorothy Koomson, had me totally gripped from start to finish - gripped by the characters, gripped by the plot and gripped by the style of writing.

Many thanks to The Bookbag for giving me the opportunity to read this book direct from the publishers.

First published in the UK: June 2019

Pieta has a secret.
Ten years ago, Pieta was kidnapped by a man calling himself The Blindfolder who said he wouldn't kill her if she kept her eyes closed for 48 hours. She never told anyone what happened to her, vowing to move on with her life. But when The Blindfolder starts hunting down his past victims, Pieta realises she may finally be forced to tell her deepest secret to stay alive . . .

Jody has a secret.
Fifteen years ago, policewoman Jody made a terrible mistake that resulted in a serial killer known as The Blindfolder escaping justice. When Jody discovers journalist Pieta survived an attack by him, she realises she may finally have found a way to catch him. But that would mean endangering at least two innocent people . . .

My review
Despite Dorothy Koomson regularly being suggested as an author I might like, ie people who like this author also like Dorothy Koomson, I have never read her before. Having done so I can totally see why she's the bestselling author of fifteen books.

This book gets a big five out of five from me. Ten years ago journalist, Pieta Rawlings, survived being kidnapped and held captive over a weekend by a man calling himself 'The Blindfolder'. She never told anyone but when he starts hunting down and killing his past victims one by one, Pieta realises that to save the lives of herself and others she may have to speak up - but at what cost?

I was totally gripped from start to finish. I don't think I've ever read a book so fast (not even on holiday) - I literally couldn't put it down especially during the latter stages when everything was building to the big reveal. That said all psychological thrillers are pretty gripping by nature of their genre so what's so special about this one?

Number one: whilst there were a couple of little plot twists I guessed along the way, the big question of 'who dunnit' I just didn't see coming at all – the person who turned out to actually be 'The Blindfolder' was not even one of my suspects.

Number two: the characters. The chapters alternate between the two main characters; that of victim Pieta and that of Detective Inspector Jody Foster (spelt differently so get over it as Jody would and does say). The characters are all strong, complex, deep and likeable but also flawed, giving a really realistic insight into the human psyche. I admired Pieta, a quirky, strong independent woman surviving by shutting down and focusing solely on her young son. However, for me it was all about Jody - intelligent, driven, fearless but ultimately motivated by a darkness and overwhelming need to right the past.

Number three: the fast pace. By chapter two we already had a crime scene, murder victim, police investigation and serial killer. And, without exception each chapter delivered another clue/piece of evidence building intrigue relentlessly throughout. Every single word, sentence, paragraph was integral to the story; there were absolutely no frills or filler.

Number four: the investigation. With the storyline alternating between the characters, it also meant it alternated between the crime and the investigation. I loved the fascinating insight to police work - thought processes, attention to detail, dead ends, game changers, mistakes, etc.

This book was so easy to read too. Each chapter was only a couple of pages which was another reason it was so compelling because it was all too easy to think just another chapter and suddenly three hours later you're still reading.

I could go on but I think you've probably got the picture - I loved this book. To be fair though, I was extremely disappointed by the ending which left one character's life hanging in the balance. I hate unfinished business, loose ends and not knowing if this person would survive or not slightly spoilt it for me. I'm also a bit of a lightweight when it comes to the grittier side of life and the psychology and motives of 'The Blindfolder' was, whilst totally realistic, a bit twisted for me. However, it was a very quick part of the overall story and not very graphic, so therefore it was totally manageable and didn't detract from my overall love of this book.

Follow Dorothy Koomson on Twitter @DorothyKoomson or find out more at www.dorothykoomson.co.uk.

Book Review - You Were Made For This by Michelle Sacks

Fans of chilling and twisted psychological thrillers will undoubtedly love this. Unfortunately, for me it was just too dark, shocking and challenging me from start to finish. That said I was still gripped and could still appreciate the raw beauty of esteemed writer Michelle Sacks' first book.

Many thanks to The Bookbag for giving me the opportunity to read this book direct from the publishers.

First published in the UK: June 2018

Doting wife, devoted husband, cherished child. Merry, Sam and Conor are the perfect family in the perfect place. In their idyllic house in the Swedish woods, they can hardly believe how lucky they are. And then Merry's closest friend Frank comes to stay. All their lives, the two women have been more like sisters than best friends. 

But soon it's clear that everyone inside the house has something to hide. And as the truth begins to show through the cracks, Merry, Frank, and Sam grow all the more desperate to keep their picture-perfect lives intact.

My review
I'm not really sure what to say about this book. It was a really good psychological thriller with plenty of twists and turns but unfortunately it just wasn't really my cup of tea.

The main 'problem' was that it was just too dark for me. I've only recently graduated from romcoms to thrillers so I'm probably still at the PG stage and this definitely wasn't that. If you like story lines that are set to shock and challenge then you would probably love this. I don't want to give too much away but the underlying theme is basically abuse: child abuse, a manipulative marriage and a deeply unhealthy friendship.

That said the character’s are all extremely complex and their development is really good, so by the end I was coming around. Whilst the events were still shocking I could understand (and maybe even sympathise a little with) the main characters, husband and wife Sam and Merry and best friend Frank - why they were the way they were and acted the way they did. Essentially it’s based on the idea that people ‘perform’ their lives, wearing different identities at different times or situations.

Basically Merry and Sam have the perfect house, perfect family and perfect lives. But, as with all good thrillers everything's not always as it seems, which Frank soon discovers when she comes to stay.

The chapters alternate between the three main characters which I really like. They were also quite short which made it easy to pick up and put down. However, it's written in a narrative style, using quite raw, graphic language which definitely adds to the darkness but I found difficult to get into. I'm not explaining this very well so here's an example: “One strike of her head against the corner of the table, her skull would split clean in two. Her brain would leak out, dribble from her nose..... I'll tell you Sam, she said. I'll tell you everything.”

Fans of chilling and twisted psychological thrillers will undoubtedly love this. If like me you just like reading then give it a try because whilst it freaked me out a little, I can still appreciate that this was a great book. And, whatever you feel while reading it, you will likely be totally gripped by these chilling characters and the pain they inflict on themselves and each other.

Find out more by visiting the author's website at www.michellesacksauthor.com.

Book Review - The Death of Mrs Westaway by Ruth Ware

I absolutely loved this contemporary psychological thriller, from best-selling author Ruth Ware, which had me completely gripped from start to finish. Clever writing, lots of twists and turns, family secrets and a compelling lead character made this book very hard to put down.

Many thanks to The Bookbag for giving me the opportunity to read this book direct from the publishers.

First published in the UK: June 2018

When Harriet Westaway receives an unexpected letter telling her she’s inherited a substantial bequest from her grandmother, it seems like the answer to her prayers. She owes money to a loan shark and the threats are getting increasingly aggressive: she needs to get her hands on some cash fast. 

There's just one problem - Hal's real grandparents died more than twenty years ago. The letter has been sent to the wrong person. But Hal knows that the cold-reading techniques she’s honed as a seaside fortune teller could help her con her way to getting the money. If anyone has the skills to turn up at a stranger's funeral and claim a bequest they’re not entitled to, it’s her. 

Hal makes a choice that will change her life for ever. But once she embarks on her deception, there is no going back. She must keep going or risk losing everything, even her life…

My Review

I've only just got into psychological thrillers so, despite being an international best-seller, author Ruth Ware has passed me by until now. But, I can see why she's much acclaimed as I absolutely loved this and can't wait to get started on her previous three books now.

The main character is Hal Westaway, who might be small, skinny, pale and young but underneath she is tough, courageous and wiser than her 21 years, made so after the sudden death of her mother three years previously. Hal is permanently tired, cold and hungry working long hours as a tarot reader on Brighton pier trying to earn enough money to keep a roof over her head, and pay off an increasingly aggressive loan shark. So, when she gets an unexpected letter with news that her grandmother has died and she's been named as a beneficiary in the will, it seems like an answer to her prayers despite the fact that Hal knows her grandmother has been dead for over twenty years.

I'd defy anyone not to be captivated by the character that is Hal - this is her story, she dominates every single sentence on every single page, not to mention that she's also an independent, complex character with an obligatory tragic back story, in short author Ruth Ware has created all the elements needed for a completely compelling character. Perhaps even more so because the other characters, silent and malevolent housekeeper Mrs Warren and Westaway brothers' pompous Harding, saintly Abel and detached Ezra, are really not very likeable - initially at least.

Whilst this starts out as a story of fraud and deceit, it quickly becomes clear that there's so much more to the story with family secrets, murder mystery and dark drama keeping you in suspense right from the beginning until the end. Whilst it's an oversized, comparatively long book it didn't feel it and the fairly short chapters made it easy reading. What I loved was that it's so cleverly written, the modern-day story is interspersed with diary extracts from twenty years ago which works well to build the tension step-by-step and provide just enough clues to enable you to work out each piece mere moments before each twist is revealed. Even more cleverly, the actual finale was totally unexpected and the only bit I didn't see coming at all.

Unfortunately, my only criticism was in fact the end. As with many thrillers or murder mysteries I was disappointed by the somewhat dubious and weak motive behind it all. However, it was such a compulsive, thrilling reading that the end was almost irrelevant and the journey itself more than made up for any misgivings I had about the ending. When you're hoping for train delays just so that you can keep reading then you know that it's a good book.

Follow author Ruth Ware on Twitter @RuthWareWriter or find out more at ruthware.com.

Book Review - Coming Home to Island House by Erica James

A beautiful story about relationships set at the start of the second world war. Thoroughly enjoyable and worth a read, however, for me it was kind of just 'nice' as in it wasn't one of those books that you just can't put down but I certainly wouldn't be adverse to reading another one of author Erica James' romance novels.

Many thanks to The Bookbag for giving me the opportunity to read this book direct from the publishers.

First published in the UK: January 2018

It's the summer of 1939, and after touring an unsettled Europe to promote her latest book, Romily Temple returns home to Island House and the love of her life, the charismatic Jack Devereux. But when Jack falls ill, his estranged family are called home and given seven days to find a way to bury their resentments and come together.

With war now declared, each member of the family is reluctantly forced to accept their new stepmother and confront their own shortcomings. But can the habits of a lifetime be changed in one week? And can Romily, a woman who thrives on adventure, cope with the life that has been so unexpectedly thrust upon her?

My Review

Much to the disgust of the village and his estranged children Jack Devereux has a new wife, the 'scarlet woman' Romily Temple. But, can his death and final demand that his children spend seven days together at childhood home, Island House, bring about a reconciliation and forgiveness from his much loved family? With sadistic Arthur, grief-consumed Hope, remorseful Kit and fiery Allegra this seems like an impossibility but then war is declared and the family find themselves pulling together.

This is a compelling story about relationships - the good, the bad and even the ugly (usually those involving Arthur). There's a real mix of characters, and plenty of them, but what I particularly liked is the author's gift for character development. Throughout the book you really start to understand each character, and the experiences that have shaped the way they behave and the relationships they have developed. It also means that none of the characters are what they may seem initially, in particular Romily who may seem to be an independent, vivacious gold-digger but is actually warm-hearted, generous and the driving force behind trying to reconcile the family.

The setting of 1939 and the start of the second world war, provides an interesting and added dimension to the story. Not to mention some truly sad and all-too-real accounts of injured soldiers, evacuees, Jewish persecution and letters home from the western front. In fact despite this being a fairly long book I was disappointed that it ended before the war finished. In fairness the fates of Jack's children had all been nicely determined by the book's end. But, those of some of the other characters such as Romily or half-Jewish half-German baby Annelise had not and with the war still raging you couldn't help feeling that the book ended before the end and wondering for example if Annelise's parents would survive and be reunited with their child.

Whilst fairly long for women's fiction, it's an easy read because of its short chapters which tend to focus on a particular character each time. It's a beautiful epic story which was thoroughly enjoyable and worth a read. However, it was kind of just 'nice' as in it wasn't one of those books that you just can't put down or has left me rushing to read any of the author's 21 other books but I certainly wouldn't be adverse to it either.

Follow author Erica James on Twitter @TheEricaJames or find out more at ericajames.co.uk.

Book Review - Auntie Poldi and the Fruits of the Lord by Mario Giordano

The second book in the Auntie Poldi series, written by German author Mario Giordano.  Complete madness but underneath the chaos there's actually a good crime story. It's a good fun read with plenty to keep you guessing and laugh out loud but only if you can succumb to the madness.

Many thanks to The Bookbag for giving me the opportunity to read this book direct from the publishers.

First published in the UK: January 2018

Wine and murder - nothing is more likely to rouse Auntie Poldi's love of the chase. Still relishing the notoriety from her spectacular resolution of the Candela case, Poldi is alive to the faintest whiff of criminality. What to others might seem a series of misfortunes - the water supply cut off, a poisoned dog - is clearly, to Poldi, an escalation: the Mafia have had her in their sights ever since she solved Valentino's murder.

Poldi has tasted blood. No one is above suspicion. And trouble will surely follow...

My Review

How to describe this book - well for starters it's unlike anything I've ever read before. It's chaotic, mad, funny, fast-paced, confusing but once you get into it it's really good fun and totally enjoyable.

The confusing part is that the story is recounted by the main character's nephew who is staying with his Auntie Poldi and listening eagerly to the day's adventures over a glass of wine or two every evening. So because it's actually his story and he's a part-time author there's also exerts of the novel he's writing, not to mention the back story of his childhood and family. Then, add to that the fact that the family are German but living in Scilly, cue various accounts of Bavarian and Italian history, life and culture as well as literal language translations, and you're probably starting to see the problem.

As is the case with most crime stories there's also a plethora of characters to try and keep up with, all with little bit parts whose relevance only becomes clear later on. Consequently I found the first couple of chapters quite difficult and that, like amateur detective Auntie Poldi, I really needed my wits about me to make any sense of it. But, once you succumb to the madness of this book and not worry too much about trying to keep everyone and everything in order then it becomes a much easier read and by the end you realise you were pretty much in the loop all along anyway.

This book was hilarious, I mean the main character is a wig wearing, larger than life character. To add to the humour there's also fortune tellers, the mafia, German tourists called Doris, pick-locking padres (priest to you and me), a sad signora, naked Japanese spiritualists, volcanoes and so much more. To give you a flavour my favourite line was "A few moments later, like two Special Forces teams, four aunts, an uncle and a dog erupted from the front door of No. 29 Baronessa, piled into Poldi's old but overpowered Alfa and Uncle Martino's battered, asthmatic Fiat, and sped off towards Etna".

It has got to be said though that underneath all the madness there's actually a good crime story with believable motives of murder, greed, corruption and politics. It starts with a poisoned dog and cut off water supply, ie what to others might seem like a series of misfortunes but to Poldi is clearly the mafia. No one is above suspicion, she even places herself on the suspect list, and trouble follows as she leaps into action without thinking, leaving the real police cursing in her wake.

There's lots of twists and turns keeping you in suspense until the end but with enough clues throughout to keep you guessing - my money was on completely the wrong person. This is the second of Auntie Poldi's adventures but it won't make any difference to your enjoyment (or confusion) if you haven't read the first.

As I've already said this is unlike anything I've read before but overall I enjoyed it. My advice would be to stick with it if you're not sure at first and Auntie Poldi may well win you over like she did me.

Book Review - Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan

The third (and possibly last) in the Little Beach Street Bakery series by author Jenny Colgan. I liked this heart-warmingly innocent story of family and friendships set in a charming Cornish village. That said the author has quite a unique style of writing that may not be to everyone's taste.

Many thanks to The Bookbag for giving me the opportunity to read this book direct from the publishers.

First published in the UK: October 2017

It's Christmas in the Cornish coastal village of Mount Polbearne. Polly Waterford loves running the Little Beach Street Bakery. She's at her happiest when she's creating delicious treats and the festive season always inspires her to bake and knead something extra special for the village residents. In fact, the only thing she loves more than her bakery is curling up with her gorgeous boyfriend, Huckle. She's determined that this Christmas is going to be their best one yet, but life doesn't always work out as planned...

When Polly's best friend Kerensa turns up with a secret that threatens the life Polly and Huckle have built together, the future begins to look uncertain. And then a face from Polly's past reappears and things become even more complicated. Polly can usually find solace in baking but she has a feeling that's not going to be enough this time. Can she get things back on track so that everyone has a merry Christmas?

My Review

Polly, Huckle and Neil are back but in what, sadly for fans of the Little Beach Street Bakery series, seems to be the last of this trilogy. Never say never but by the end of this book, the author has certainly secured the destiny of these three much-loved characters. Don't be put off if you haven't read the previous ones, it really won't matter particularly as the author provides a helpful little synopsis at the start to help those, like me, that are new to these stories.

So, Polly has built a home and bakery business in the very romantic and inconvenient tidal island of Mount Polbearne with her American boyfriend Huckle and 'pet' puffin Neil. She has everything she's ever dreamed of so when Huckle wants them to marry, her best friend makes a potentially life-altering confession and an estranged family member gets in touch it all gets a bit much for Polly.

What I really liked was the yin and yang of this book. You've got the deliciously warm and quaint backdrop of village life, baking, cobbled streets and lighthouses (which is undoubtedly my preferred setting for any good book) mixed with a modern story of female entrepreneurs, single mothers and one night stands which keeps it from being too twee and sickly.

I love a story where friendships, family and marital relationships feature just as heavily as romance - or in this case more so. Whilst I've never read her before I know Jenny Colgan has been well praised for writing smart, witty chicklit but I wouldn't say this was particularly funny. It was a truly girly feel good book that did make me smile but more so with the sheer adorability of it rather than actual laughter.

I also struggled a bit with the style of writing especially initially until I settled into it. In my mind it's written in quite a simplistic manner and familiar tone of voice, not to dissimilar to that of children's fiction. For example, "You might wonder how such a tiny village sustains two bakeries, but then you obviously haven't eaten there" or the opening sentence which begins "This story is about one particular Christmas, but it actually starts with a very Bad Thing happening the previous spring". I also didn't really get the pet puffin thing, I mean I'm an animal lover through and through who loves the romantic notion of befriending a wild animal but actually being able to take a puffin everywhere with you, i.e. to a hospital or five-star restaurant, was all a little far-fetched for me.

As the title suggests this book is set at Christmas but again don't be put off as it's little more than a nod to the festive season with only very subtle references to mince pies, decorations, etc. So this is 'not just for Christmas' but would be enjoyable at any time of the year. Although the fact that it is coming up to Christmas does give me an excuse to try Polly's recipe for mincemeat twists or Yule log which as a nice touch can be found at the back of the book.

Overall I liked this book but didn't love it although fans of Little Beach or Jenny Colgan will I'm sure. 

Follow author Jenny Colgan on Twitter @jennycolgan or find out more at www.jennycolgan.com.

Book Review - Sleigh Rides and Silver Bells at the Christmas Fair by Heidi Swain

I couldn't wait to read this - the latest book in the Wynbridge series - and it certainly didn't disappoint. I defy anyone not to fall in love with the charming fictional village of Wynbridge and its delightful residents or at least be able to vividly picture each and every one. It's a compelling, witty and feel good story with some innocent romance and unusual friendships thrown in too.

Many thanks to The Bookbag for giving me the opportunity to read this book direct from the publishers.

First published in the UK: October 2017

When Anna takes on the role of companion to the owner of Wynthorpe Hall, on the outskirts of Wynbridge, she has no idea that her life is set to change beyond all recognition. A confirmed ‘bah humbug’ when it comes to Christmas, Anna is amazed to find herself quickly immersed in the eccentric household, and when youngest son Jamie unexpectedly arrives home it soon becomes obvious that her personal feelings are going all out to compromise her professional persona.

Jamie, struggling to come to terms with life back in the Fens, makes a pact with Anna – she has to teach him to fall back in love with Wynthorpe Hall, while he helps her fall back in love with Christmas. But will it all prove too much for Anna, or can the family of Wynthorpe Hall warm her heart once and for all...?

My Review

Having just discovered author Heidi Swain and her series of novels featuring the residents of Wynbridge, I couldn't wait to read this book and it certainly didn't disappoint being every bit as good as the previous book. Yet again Heidi Swain has managed to combine an original mix of characters with a feel-good storyline to create a totally compelling read. But, don't worry if you haven't read any of the other instalments as each one focuses on a different lead character and story so it really won't matter.

This one is set at Christmas so it's a non-stop extravaganza of Christmas markets, sleigh rides, solstice celebrations, light switch-ons, Christmas tree auctions and mince pies – totally heart-warming unless you are the main character, Christmas-hating Anna. Knowing that the Connelly family are not planning any big festivities Anna takes a Christmas job at majestic Wynthorpe Hall, only the much awaited but reluctant homecoming of youngest son Jamie somewhat changes the family's plans and Anna finds herself struggling with childhood memories.

This is so well written with the village, the hall and the various characters all so beautifully described that I could clearly picture each and every one. Unusually all the characters are equally strong and likeable from independent Anna to playful Angus, elegant Catherine to spirited Hayley or stalwart Mick to baking Queen Dorothy. I particularly love the host of feisty entrepreneurial female characters, not to mention the village's abundance of gorgeous eligible bachelors whether it's handsome Jamie or 'sex-on-legs' Will. It's safe to say that I'm totally in love with the fictional country village and all its characters – so much so that if Wynbridge was a real place I'd be moving there straight away.

This does, however, lead me to my only slight criticism of this book. Because the other Heidi Swain book that I read, (Coming Home to Cuckoo Cottage) seemed to feature many of the characters from previous books I was expecting (and looking forward) to catching up with some of Wynbridge's many lovable residents. But, whilst there were a few fleeting name drops this book disappointingly focused almost entirely on the inhabitants of Wynthorpe Hall. Don't get me wrong the hall provided plenty of personalities among the employees and extended family members but as a now die-hard Wynbridge fan and considering it is part of a series it just would have been nice to have more connection.

I also love the innocence of this romance, it's about butterfly feelings and tender kisses rather than explicit sex scenes. I also love that it's not just a romance but there's so many other story lines of family, friendships, entrepreneurial spirit and overcoming adversity.

In case you hadn't gathered I adored this book, it would be a magical read at Christmas time but in my opinion is still totally enchanting at any time of the year.

Follow author Heidi Swain on Twitter @Heidi_Swain or find out more at www.heidiswain.co.uk.

Book Review - Can You Keep a Secret? by Karen Perry

An intense psychological thriller that had me totally gripped from the very first to the very last page. As a chicklit fan this was not my usual genre but I loved it although perhaps that's not surprising as apparently all three of author Karen Perry's previous books have been bestsellers.

Many thanks to The Bookbag for giving me the opportunity to read this book direct from the publishers.

First published in the UK: November 2017

Surviving the weekend depends on whether you can keep a secret . . .

Lindsey hasn't spoken to Rachel in twenty years, not since her brother's eighteenth birthday party at their parents' remote country house. A night that shattered so many friendships - and left Rachel's father dead.

Now Thornbury Hall is up for sale, and the old gang are back there, together again. A weekend to say goodbye to the old place, to talk about the past. But twenty years of secrets aren't given up lightly. Some won't speak about what happened that night. While others want to ensure that no one ever does.

My Review

Thornbury Hall is the grand ancestral home of the Bagenal family headed by taciturn Peter with his wistful wife Heather and their two children, Patrick and Rachel. It is also the setting for many secrets and tragedies all of which resurface twenty years later as Patrick reunites childhood friends, Niall, Marcus, Hilary and main character Lindsey, for one final party before selling the house.

Cleverly written, the chapters alternate between 2017 and 1991, with the friends' teenage years brilliantly setting the scene for the present day events and the story unravelling seamlessly across the decades. In a way it was a kind of coming of age story with the teenage versions of the characters facing the normal adolescent challenges of puberty, friendships and sexual experiences all of which would ultimately shape the adults they would become and the tragic turn of events they would encounter.

Every chapter, or quite possibly even every page, was packed with intrigue and drama immersing me so fully that I was even able to totally block out my fellow passengers on my daily train commute - which is no small feat believe me. Naively I thought I could see what was coming almost from the beginning but happily I was totally wrong and could never in a million years have predicted the actual truths behind the tragedies. I also loved the fact that the intrigue kept building throughout the book with nothing revealed until the very last pages when everything suddenly fell into place and parts of the story that seemed insignificant at the time now made sense.

Such was the suspense that it's very hard to talk about this book without giving anything away. But, if it was on television I think it would come with the warning that it 'contains scenes that some viewers may find disturbing' and that for me was the only real negative. It wasn't the scenes as such but the overall motivation that was disconcerting, however, that said it wasn't evident until the end of the book and described in a non-explicit manner so whilst a subject I would normally avoid it wasn't too off putting and certainly didn't diminish my love of this book.

An intense psychological thriller that had me totally gripped from the very first to the very last page. As a chicklit fan this was not my usual genre but I loved it although perhaps that's not surprising as all three of the author's previous books have been bestsellers - I can't wait to get started on Karen Perry's other novels now.

Book Review - The Prime of Ms Dolly Greene by E V Harte

As a self-confessed chicklit fan, who's never read a crime novel before, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it....turns out I absolutely loved it! This book was definitely a real page-turner, with great characters and lots of twists and turns but at the same time light-hearted and funny. EV Harte is an author and tarot reader, and this is the first in her new tarot detective series.

Many thanks to The Bookbag for giving me the opportunity to read this book direct from the publishers.

First published in the UK: September 2017

In the heart of South West London, just a short stroll from the Thames, lies an enclosed and overgrown bike path and a single row of cottages. Foremost among Tinderbox Lane's hotchpotch of loyal residents is professional Tarot reader, Dolly Greene: divorced and permanently broke, she shares her tiny house with her 21-year-old daughter Pippa.

When, one stiflingly hot summer's day, Dolly reads the cards for the hedonistic Nikki, her usually professional patter is interrupted by a sudden vision - a flash of Nikki's face, covered in blood and bruises.

A few days later, when the body of a battered woman is washed up by Chiswick Bridge, Dolly is haunted by the belief that Nikki's time may have come . . . but can she be sure? And how far is Dolly prepared to go to act on her intuition?

My Review
I love reading full stop so I was excited to have the chance to read the first crime novel from established, well-regarded author Daisy Waugh, writing under a pseudonym. But, as a self-confessed chicklit fan, who's never read a crime novel before, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it....turns out I absolutely loved it!

I've always been put off thinking crime writing would be dark and gritty but this was the complete opposite. It was light-hearted and contemporary with one of the characters (or key witnesses) uploading pictures of the death scene to social media before a death was even confirmed. In fact the tone was very similar to my beloved romcoms, and surprisingly there was actually even a romance as well as a murder. The short chapters made it really easy to read – perfect for a quick five-minute sit-down.

Tinderbox Lane is a heart-warming community of seven teeny-tiny mews houses, located along a bike path in the 'depths of the depths' of outer Southwest London so hard to find that even 'Tesco who say Every Little Helps wouldn't deliver'. But, despite only having seven (eccentric) residents there are a lot of strange goings-on both real and seen in the tarot cards or visions by psychic Dolly Greene, who lives at number two. Smart, warm-hearted and extremely likeable character Dolly turns super sleuth but struggles to convince even her daughter, let alone the local police, that she's not insane.

All of the characters were so realistic and well described from flirtatious, belly-laughing neighbour Maurice to voluptuous Nikki with her turquoise nails and cheap gold bangles or even Professor Filthy that I could vividly picture them all and totally bought into their individual fates. They were also all cleverly and indirectly linked to each other, adding to the book's many twists and turns and subtle clues.

My only very slight criticism was that when the murder mystery was fully revealed the motives and conclusions were somewhat tame and fairly innocent (even for a girl who said she didn't want dark and sinister). But, I enjoyed the suspense and plot twists so much along the way that the ending was pretty inconsequential really in the grand scheme of things. This book was definitely a real page-turner, I just couldn't put it down and am so excited to hear that this was the first in a series featuring Dolly Greene because I literally cannot wait for the next one.

Follow author EV Harte on Twitter @dldwaugh or find out more at e-v-harte.

Book Review - Coming Home to Cuckoo Cottage by Heidi Swain

Part of the Wynbridge series by author Heidi Swain, this is an utterly enchanting book with a charming feel good story line based around the delightful characters of a fictional country village, and some good old-fashioned romance too.

Many thanks to The Bookbag for giving me the opportunity to read this book direct from the publishers.

First published in the UK: July 2017

When Lottie Foster’s grandmother’s best friend Gwen dies, she leaves Lottie her lovely home, Cuckoo Cottage. Lottie loves the cottage but Matt, a charming local builder, points out that beneath its charm it is falling apart. Luckily he is always on hand to help with the problems that somehow seem to keep cropping up. But is he just a bit too good to be true? Certainly Will, Lottie’s closest neighbour, seems to think so.

Lottie plans to set up her own business renovating vintage caravans. She hasn’t told anyone about the project she has cooked up with Jemma from The Cherry Tree Café to repurpose Gwen’s old caravan and turn it into a gorgeous tearoom. But before she can finally enjoy living with her legacy she must uncover who she can trust, and who to avoid. And with two men vying for her attention, will she also find love?

My Review

I absolutely loved this book. It was utterly enchanting with its charming feel-good storyline, delightful characters and innocent romance. It was also an easy read with short chapters making it easy to pick up and put down (not that I wanted to) throughout the day.

It's actually the fourth in a series of novels by author Heidi Swain all featuring the residents of Wynbridge. So, if you've already read others of her books I should imagine that this one will be a bit like catching up with old friends but if like me you haven't then it really won't matter. Heidi Swain describes each character so beautifully that I soon felt I knew them all from the main character vintage-loving Lottie to tyrant terrier Minnie, easy-going Mags and her nature-loving son, Ed, or kind and considerate David. Unusually all the characters were equably likeable, even the unsavoury one – in fact in case you hadn't already gathered it's safe to say that I totally fell in love with the fictional country village and all its characters.

This particular instalment sees newcomer Lottie trying to fit into the village and appease the local gossips after unexpectedly inheriting Cuckoo Cottage, home of her beloved surrogate grandmother and many idyllic summers and childhood memories. Whilst trying to get to grips with the idiosyncrasies of an older property and finding a way to earn a living, Lottie also has the luxury of two gorgeous men to choose between in the form of handsome handyman Matt or Will the dark and mysterious vet.

This book wasn't all twee and olde-worlde though, as I also found it weirdly inspirational (perhaps because I'm at a bit of a cross roads in my life having just been made redundant). One particular quote really struck a chord with me, when Lottie proclaimed: "For the most part I've just fitted in with whatever happened to come along. I've never actually gone out looking for adventure". That thought along with the book's abundance of entrepreneurial female characters from Jemma the owner of the Cherry Tree Cafe, Amber's diversification of Skylark Farm and Harriet and Rachel's plans to open a nursery really got me thinking.

My only slight (very slight) criticism of this book was the small plot spoiler on the back cover blurb which clearly identified which of the two men vying for Lottie's affections wasn't perhaps quite what they seemed. The book certainly left you guessing which of the two was the real deal and so without having read the blurb first, I'm not sure which one of the two I would've been wiling her to end up with.

Follow author Heidi Swain on Twitter @Heidi_Swain or find out more at www.heidiswain.co.uk.