Author: soniabellhouse

Sonia Bellhouse loves writing and reading stories with a ‘happily ever after ’ending. She believes we all need love in our lives.Contributor to The Regent's Menagerie, The Regency Abduction Club, Sexy Scandals at Swain Cove and Writing the Dream.Author of the contemporary and Viking romance Fire& Ice. Speaker, reader, dreamer. Visit Sonia Bellhouse's Chatting with Authors. https://www.facebook.com/soniabellhouse.author/ Or her Chatting with Authors page https://www.facebook.com/groups/1031642857187598

Escapism Through Reading: A January Journey

January seemed to drag on forever. Here in the Southern hemisphere it tends towards hot days and humid nights. Hot cross buns arrived in the shops on Boxing day and Christmas decorations and foods went on sale. In the heat the whole concept seemed unreal.

Forced to stay inside under the air conditioning I did what I do best, I picked up a book and read. There were legal processes I couldn’t hurry along and re-applying for my passport also had reams of paper work.

A cool drink seemed a good idea

Her majesty the Queen Investigates #No 5

The Queen Who Came in From the Cold by S.J.Bennett.

It’s 1961 and the Queen is planning her state visit to Italy aboard Britannia. But before she goes, an unreliable witness claims to have seen a brutal murder from the royal train. Did it really happen, and could the victim be a missing friend of Princess Margaret’s new husband, Tony Armstrong Jones? The Queen and her assistant private secretary, Joan McGraw, get to work on their second joint investigation, little imagining that this time it will take them all the way to Venice in a tale of spies, lies and Cold War skulduggery.

 Mystery Fiction .Audiobook Mystery ,British Literature Royalty

336 pages, Hardcover First published November 6, 2025M

My Review.

A socialite with a taste for  heavy drinking and gossip, wanders where she shouldn’t on the Royal train .She returns claiming  she saw a murder. No one believes her, but later a few coincidences convince Joan McGraw that it could be true. No one is reported as missing and they have an important trip to Italy to prepare for. Joan’s suspicions won’t go away and soon she is involved in situations she had thought to leave behind. Fun, and believable. Love how HM the Queen and HRH Prince Philip are portrayed. I can almost hear Philip’s commentary.

The Parasol Academy #I

The Nanny’s Handbook to Magic and Managing Difficult Dukes by Amy Rose Bennett.

Mary Poppins meets Bridgerton in a feel-good blend of cozy fantasy magic, historical romance, humour, and Victorian era charm, as a recent graduate of the Parasol Academy for Exceptional Nannies and Governesses finds her supernatural abilities are little help when it comes to falling for the shy, mysterious inventor who happens to be her employer . . .

For readers of Heather Fawcett, Allison Saft, Katherine Arden, Freya Marske, and Olivia Atwater’s Regency Faerie Tales series.

Emmeline Chase, 25-year-old widow and new alumna, may be more high-spirited than the Academy would like. Few graduates, however, could turn a mismanaged teleportation onto a duke’s rooftop into an offer of employment. But Emmeline’s circumstances, along with her desperation to support her bankrupt, incarcerated father, have made her dauntless. Which seems the primary qualification to work for expert horologist Xavier Mason, Duke of St. Lawrence, and manage his three rambunctious wards. Yet Emmeline soon discovers that the nobleman’s heart-melting voice and captivating mind present an entirely different sort of trouble. She cannot risk losing her license by fraternizing with her employer . . .

Xavier’s wards have sent two nannies packing in a month thanks to frogs, firecrackers, and general mayhem. In addition, Xavier’s professional reputation is on the line. He’s already considered odd, with his talking raven companion and his fascination with timekeeping instead of pleasure-chasing with his peers. Charming, vivacious Emmeline seems intrigued with his quirks—but Xavier must have absolute peace to design London’s “King of Clocks” for Westminster Palace before the competition closes. Emmeline can no doubt restore order. As long as he doesn’t fall under her spell . . .

Yet, with a possible saboteur in their midst, and the attraction flaring between them threatening to become a deliciously disastrous distraction, a touch of magic may be required . . .

Romance Fantasy, Historical Romance Historical Fiction .Historical Magic Fiction

401 pages, Paperback First published September 30, 2025

My Review.

Suspend disbelief and enter into the fun of a talking raven who can communicate telepathically with Emmeline, a nanny with a touch of Mary Poppins. Mary was much too sensible to fall for her employer, but Emmeline finds the bashful and misunderstood Xavier hard to resist. Her charges are high spirted,  but never nasty , merely bored with the sober routine of the household. Emmeline soon finds their interests and encourages them, even involving the Duke. Life would be perfect but for the household’s saboteur,  is that merely mischief or something more sinister? At times the magic is a bit too convenient but overall, I enjoyed the book

Annie Valentine #1

The Personal Shopper by Carmen Reid.

Meet Annie Valentine: stylish, savvy, multi-tasker extraordinaire.

As a personal shopper in a swanky London fashion store, Annie can re-style and re-invent her clients from head to toe. In fact, this super-skilled dresser can be relied on to solve everyone’s problems . . . except her own.

Although she’s a busy single mum to stroppy teen Lana *and painfully shy Owen, there’s a gap in Annie’s wardrobe – sorry, life – for a new man. But finding the perfect partner is turning out to be so much trickier than finding the perfect pair of shoes.

Can she source a genuine classic? A lifelong investment? Will she end up with a mistake from the sale rail, who’ll have to be returned? Or maybe, just maybe, there’ll be someone new in this season who could be the one . . .

  • Lana is renamed Lauren in later books.
  • Chick Lit. Romance Fiction, Contemporary Rom Com. Fashion
  •  354 pages, Kindle Edition First published January 1, 2007

My Review.

I read a much later book in the series book eight I think. I enjoyed it and thought Id start at the beginning. Annie is a relatable character- her work life is  a success. She is a much in demand personal shopper attuned to trends and brands. She has an eye for style and repeat customers who swear by her abilities

The luxe lifestyle doesn’t continue at home, as single mum Annie tries to do it all. Life would be so much better if she had a partner-.and she tried one on for size, but is he really all he seems?

Annie Valentine #2

Late Night Shopping by Carmen Reid

The eagerly anticipated new novel from the author of The Personal Shopper sees Annie Valentine jetting off to Italy.

Annie Valentine is one ambitious lady, but does she know when to stop?
Uber-busy Annie Valentine — mum to two demanding children and personal shopper in a swanky London fashion store — is now intent on setting up a business of her own. She has ambitions for a shoe and handbag empire, and she’ll do anything to get there.
          But what about her adorable new man? As someone who wants nothing more than a quiet life, Ed is shocked to discover Annie is staking their home on her success. And now their relationship is on the line.
          Ed isn’t convinced that Annie’s surprise remedy — an extravagant friends and family holiday to Italy — is really what they all need. Especially when a dashing Italian businessman promises to fulfil Annie’s every dream. . .

Chick Lit. Romance Fiction. Adult Women’s Fiction ,Fashion Contemporary

304 pages, Kindle Edition First published June 30, 2008

My Review.

Annie has been single  so long that it doesn’t occur to her she needs to consult her partner about any decision. It’s an obvious blind spot for a smart woman and she hadn’t realised she risks losing more than money. Annie’s impulsive nature both delights and infuriates. I didn’t find it as enjoyable  as book one.

How Not To Shop by Carmen Reid.

Annie Valentine #3

Her passion is fashion…but she’s on a budget!

Personal shopper Annie Valentine is about to hit the big time: presenting a glamorous TV makeover series! This is it for Annie and her little family. No more scrimping and saving, finally all her hard work has paid off.

But life in the spotlight isn’t all its cracked up to be. Soon, Annie discovers this is TV on a shoestring and her budget is zip. But more than this, Annie feels s though the women she should be helping to look fabulous, go away feeling all the more like fashion failures!


Fans of Sophie Kinsella, Lindsey Kelk and Paige Toon will love this laugh-out-loud romantic comedy from bestselling author Carmen Reid.

Chick Lit. Romance Fiction. Contemporary .Modern.

344 pages, Kindle Edition First published January 1, 2009

My Review.

Anyone who has enjoyed a makeover show should enjoy this book. It is quite revealing about production values, personality clashes, what makes good tv? After being a big fish in a small pond, Annie isn’t enjoying the experience. She still wants to do her best for the women she is supposed to be transforming. Annie has genuine empathy and this makes her efforts worthwhile.

You might have to stay where you are,but imagination can take you anywhere.

A frothy concoction of reading this month. I wasn’t in the headspace to read anything challenging or confronting. I choose escapism pure and simple. Next month? Who knows!

December Reflections: Celebrations and Reading Memories

Socialising, Celebrating and Reading, in December 2025.

Wasn’t it January 2025 a moment ago? This year has sped by and had more than its share of drama and surprises. I was invited to an “Orphan’s Christmas.” which meant they day was far pleasanter than I expected. It was a hot and humid day and we enjoyed prawns and crayfish.

Weather appropriate Christmas fare.

Sadly, there were two family deaths earlier this year, my brother- in -law and my younger daughter. There was also the joy of re-establishing contact with my eldest daughter. Life is sprinkled with joy and sadness and the two can co-exist. Throughout it all, as usual, my books were a solace and distraction.

I brought the mini pavlovas.

I began reading two books which I ultimately abandoned. I wont mention them here, except to say I have actually read more then I am reviewing.

No, it wasn’t these children’s books.

Murder at the Christmas Emporium by Andreina Cordani.

It’s Christmas at The Emporium, a bespoke gift shop hidden in the depths of London’s winding streets featuring handcrafted delights unavailable anywhere else. Tinsel coils around the wooden beams, lights sparkle in the windows and the open fire crackles comfortingly. As closing time approaches after a busy trading day, only a few customers drift towards the exit – but they find they cannot leave. The doors are locked.

What initially seemed an innocent mix-up turns sinister as the shopkeepers seem strangely uninterested in lending assistance. The festive cheer has all but disappeared among a growing feeling of unease – and then a chilling discovery is made in Santa’s grotto.

For those that survive the night, it will be a Christmas to remember.

My Review.

A book that defies easy categorization, but an enjoyable read. It is like a fantasy once the Emporium has been entered. Personal facades are soon  demolished, and no one is quite who they seem. It’s easy to imagine the trance like state that has been induced. If murder and mayhem aren’t your thing ,don’t read the book. Its perfect for those of us who don’t have the happiest of  Christmas memories. A bit of a locked room mystery, a bit Agatha Christie.

The Love Game: Your next favourite laugh-out-loud spicy romantic comedy by Kat French.


Previously published as A Summer Scandal

‘Fun and sexy – a perfect beach read’ THE SUN

‘Brimming full of joy and sunshine’ JULES WAKE

As the mercury rises, so does their chemistry…

When Violet inherits a crumbling Victorian pier in the quirky seaside town of Swallow Beach, she sees more than peeling paint – she sees potential. Her vision? An adults-only boardwalk of boutique shops, artisan offerings and second chances.
Not everyone is thrilled with Violet’s bold plans, but she finds an unexpected ally in Calvin: gorgeous, mysterious and surprisingly handy. He’s got secrets he’s not sharing – and looks at Violet like he’s got nothing to lose.
As sparks fly and passions ignite, Violet must navigate small-town drama, nosy neighbours and a connection that might be more than just a summer fling.

Will this seaside romance survive the heat – or burn out before the summer ends?

292 pages, Kindle Edition Published July 24, 2025.

My Review.

A book that starts out as a fun quirky read and the develops into something  deeper and slightly darker. There is a definite  heavy sexual connection and vibe, but topics such as infidelity and suicide are also covered which might make it challenging for some readers.

Six Weeks by the Sea by Paula Byrne.

A vivid historical novel about Jane Austen that explores a question that has fascinated Janeites for years—Austen wrote some of the greatest love stories in existence, but did she ever fall in love?

When Jane Austen hears the news that her family is to leave their beloved country home for the city of Bath, she faints with surprise and horror. But there is one the promise of a six-week holiday by the sea while their new lodgings are being prepared. She relishes the bracing air and beautiful surroundings, takes pleasure in sea bathing, and shares laughter with her sister Cassandra and best friend Martha Lloyd.

To her joy, brother Frank arrives, fresh from naval exploits in the war against Napoleon. His friend Captain Parker seems to be making a play for Jane’s affections, but her sharp emotional intelligence tells her that something is not quite right. Meanwhile, she assists the eccentric Reverend Swete in finding a home for his bi-racial granddaughter who has arrived from the West Indies.

Jane initially takes against another visitor to the seaside resort of Sidmouth, the lawyer Samuel Rose, but as she gets to know him, a wholly different feeling begins to blossom. . . . 

Written with a same wit and style that echos Austen herself, Paula Byrne expertly interweaves her deep knowledge of Austen and her world to imagine and give voice to the most romantic summer of the beloved author’s short life.

256 pages, Hardcover Published August 5, 2025

 

  My Review.

While I initially found this interesting, I think it crammed too may topics into one slight story. We were implicitly promised romance but there was little of it in these pages. What is covered was attitudes towards mixed race people, slavery, morality, homosexuality. The research is obvious and it was disappointing to learn via another reviewer, Abigail Bok, that the facts had not always been respected.

The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore

A spicy small-town romance and TikTok phenomenon, perfect for fans of Hannah Grace and Stephanie Archer.

When Jeanie’s aunt gifts her the beloved Pumpkin Spice Café in the small town of Dream Harbor, Jeanie jumps at the chance for a fresh start away from her very dull desk job.

Logan is a local farmer who avoids Dream Harbor’s gossip at all costs. But Jeanie’s arrival disrupts Logan’s routine and he wants nothing to do with the irritatingly upbeat new girl, except that he finds himself inexplicably drawn to her.

Will Jeanie’s happy-go-lucky attitude win over the grumpy-but-gorgeous Logan, or has this city girl found the one person in town who won’t fall for her charm, or her pumpkin spice lattes…

The Pumpkin Spice Café is a cozy romantic mystery for fans of Gilmore Girls, with a grumpy x sunshine dynamic, a small-town setting and a HEA guaranteed!

Tropes:• grumpy x sunshine• small town• found family• spicy .First published August 30, 2023

My Review.

An easy-to-read  romance that follows the tropes pretty closely. Jeanie is unused to small- town life, but she can’t pass up the opportunity to run the Pumpkin Spice Café. Logan wants to stay under the radar of the small- town gossips but he’s unwillingly drawn to Jeanie. Someone seems to have a grudge against Jeanie, or the cafe.

The iconic Cottesloe Beach, Australia on a perfect day.

New year has brought reflections and sadness, with thoughts of loss and of the fragility of life. Of those who aren’t here to celebrate the new year. It ‘s also inspired exciting plans for the year ahead. Of course, there will be more reading, and more writing. Maybe the memoir I’ve been writing for over two years will finally be finished. Exploring new friendships, treasuring old friendships and excitedly planning for upcoming travel and family visits.

Embracing November: Reflections on Life and Memoir Writing

Living in the Northern hemisphere, November was one of my least favourite months, only competing with February for the title. In November there was Christmas to look forward to. January had holiday brochures to check, while dreaming about far away tropical places .

November can feel bleak.

February had no such excitement ,just a hard slog until Spring- date unknown. Spring could be early in April or  May, or even feel like it was never arriving at all. In the Southern hemisphere November is still Spring, but with unexpected heatwave blasts like summer. Often, its a good time to be indoors under air-conditioning and that was my plan.

In theory I was  supposed  to be writing .Finishing the two years of hard slog on spent a project very close to my heart, my memoir. Life threw a curve ball into the mix. I reconnected with my daughter, after an absence of many years. To say I was delighted is to understate it. We have been messaging daily, and catching up on What’s App. The memoir is close to my heart, but my daughter is my heart.

 I haven’t had the same time for reading or writing, so, it’s a short book list this month.

Annie in Paris by Carmen Reid.

If you love Emily in Paris, you will love this BRAND NEW book in the Annie Valentine series from bestselling author Carmen Reid. Personal shopper Annie Valentine is back! Older and bolder!

Fashion guru Annie is struggling to cope with her hectic life. With the demands of two older children, plus four-year-old twins, her marriage to Ed is in a romance-free rut and she’s clinging by a couture thread to her job as the nation’s favourite fashion fixer.

And where is Svetlana, her multi-millionaire friend, when Annie needs her? Busy with an expensive mid-life crisis, that’s where!

When Ed gets the chance to teach in Paris, Annie thinks time apart could be the answer. Wrong!

In Paris, Ed transforms into a debonair silver fox, attracting the attentions of stylish siren Sylvie.

Annie can’t lose her man or the job she loves, so bundling her bags, her babies and a reluctant Svetlana onto the Eurostar, she sets off to the rescue. But can the City of Love deliver the ooh la la that her marriage, and her fashion series, so desperately needs?

Another brilliant laugh out loud emotional read, perfect for fans of Fiona Gibson, Tracy Bloom and Sophie Ranald!

“Annie Valentine is a wonderful character – I want her to burst into my life and sort out my wardrobe for me!” Bestselling author, Jill Manse
338 pages, Kindle Edition Published April 30, 2024

My Review.

When I selected this book,  I was  unaware it was the seventh in the series. It didn’t really matter much as I was able to catch up on Annie’s story. She leads a frantic life as a fashion stylist, but also as a mum of teens and toddlers. I found the fashion advice added an extra je ne sais quoi to the story. It reminded me a little  of Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic series. I’d be happy to go back and start reading the series from book one. A light-hearted bit of fun.

Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel by Rebecca Raisin.

Turn a tumbledown Paris hotel into a perfect boutique, bookish retreat, and have it open for Christmas? What could possibly go wrong? When Anais receives a near-derelict Paris hotel in her divorce settlement, her first thought is to tidy it up and sell it immediately. All she wants is to move on and forget her disaster of a marriage ever happened.

But selling it proves impossible, so she has only one to make it gorgeous and open by Christmas… when her funds will almost certainly run out.

She’s not counting on the grumpy American bar-owner next door, Noah, coming and interfering at every moment though. Nor is she expecting to find a mysterious room – which holds the key to a one-hundred-year-old secret – about a woman who chose love against the odds.

One thing’s for sure… as the fairy lights twinkle all over the city of lights and the first snowflakes start to fall… this will be a Christmas in Paris to remember.

   338 pages Kindle

My Review.

This book ticked so many boxes for me. Paris, Christmas, renovations, books and reading and that is without even mentioning the burgeoning romance. Like curling up with a mug of steaming hot chocolate., warm and comforting. Hits all the seasonal highs while telling a slightly unpredictable storey.

Dealing with Annie by Jill Shalvis

Danger comes to Cooper’s Corner…

Annie Hughes had become the Martha Stewart of cosmetics. But when DEA agent Ethan McCall warned Annie that her company was the target of sabotage—and that she was in danger— she wouldn’t listen. Then Annie disappeared. And only Ethan could rescue her.

Originally published in 2003. 166 pages, Kindle Edition

   My Review.

A speedy read, which feels slightly more of an outline for a story than a fully fleshed out story. It was quick to read and had enough to retain my interest .Obviously, if I had read the previous books in the series that might have made things clearer. Reluctant romance.

There are so many conflicting  priorities.  Finish the memoir, some social obligations, and reading, always a part of my life. Most important is growing my relationship with my daughter. My priorities have shifted. It’s all about reconnecting with my daughter, and of course making up for lost time Life has blessed us with a second chance and they don’t come along very often.

Apologies for the delayed reviews, of course, I will continue reading and reviewing. Books are part of the fabric of my life, enjoyment, entertainment, information, relaxation. I cannot imagine not reading. Could you?

Unraveling Family Lies in Homecoming: A Review

Sadly, I’m not Wonder Woman and I placed too many expectations on myself in October. I continued to write, and I’m now at 100,000 words . I eschewed most tv in favour of reading. My book of the month is definitely Homecoming what a tour de force!

Homecoming by Kate Morton

Adelaide Hills, Christmas Eve, 1959: At the end of a scorching hot day, beside a creek on the grounds of the grand and mysterious mansion, a local delivery man makes a terrible discovery. A police investigation is called and the small town of Tambilla becomes embroiled in one of the most shocking and perplexing murder cases in the history of South Australia.

Sixty years later, Jess is a journalist in search of a story. Having lived and worked in London for almost twenty years, she now finds herself laid off from her full-time job and struggling to make ends meet. A phone call out of nowhere summons her back to Sydney, where her beloved grandmother, Nora, who raised Jess when her mother could not, has suffered a fall and been raced to the hospital.

Nora has always been a vibrant and strong presence: decisive, encouraging, young despite her years. When Jess visits her in the hospital, she is alarmed to find her grandmother frail and confused. It’s even more alarming to hear from Nora’s housekeeper that Nora had been distracted in the weeks before her accident and had fallen on the steps to the attic—the one place Jess was forbidden from playing in when she was small.

At loose ends in Nora’s house, Jess does some digging of her own. In Nora’s bedroom, she discovers a true crime book, chronicling the police investigation into a long-buried tragedy: the Turner Family Tragedy of Christmas Eve, 1959. It is only when Jess skims through the book that she finds a shocking connection between her own family and this once-infamous crime—a crime that has never been resolved satisfactorily. And for a journalist without a story, a cold case might be the best distraction she can find…

An epic novel that spans generations, Homecoming asks what we would do for those we love, and how we protect the lies we tell. It explores the power of motherhood, the corrosive effects of tightly held secrets, and the healing nature of truth. Above all, it is a beguiling and immensely satisfying novel from one of the finest writers working today,

547 pages, Hardcover

My Review.

This book surprised me and continued to surprise me, each time I’d figured something out, the parameters shifted. As an expat myself, I know the sense of dislocation and divided loyalties that can engender. Families are complicated and none more so than in this story. Loneliness and isolation, regrets, secrets and lies, motherhood, identity, jealousy. Some lyrical descriptions of the Australian bush, a continually shifting landscape, which is as much a character as anyone. A big book, but you will be swept along and keep reading. It is so worth reading.

The Postcard by Fern Britton

Penny Leighton, TV Producer and wife of the local vicar Simon Canter, is struggling to cope with motherhood. The couple have had their only child Jenna, while Penny is in her forties and it’s been a big shock to her system. When Simon engages the services of a nanny, Ella, as a way of helping Penny, it only serves to push her further away from him and from Jenna.
After Penny’s sister arrives in the village after the death of the woman Penny called her mother, it brings memories of her troubled childhood to the surface. As a distraction, she finds herself drawn to the village’s new Doctor, but he isn’t quite the charmer than he seems, as new arrival, Ella, is about to find out. But will all this be too late for Penny, who is about to risk everything?

This is the first Fern Britton book that I have read.  It wasn’t what I expected being quite depressing. Penny seems to have it all but is struggling with later in life motherhood. It was hard to like her, and I found myself reluctant to pick the book up. We all have our everyday problems and rather than being escapist fiction this plunged me into another person’s life and problems.

The Christmas Sisters by Sarah Morgan.

“The perfect gift for readers who relish heartwarming tales of sisters and love.” — Booklist on The Christmas Sisters

In the snowy Highlands of Scotland, Suzanne McBride is dreaming of the perfect cozy Christmas. Her three adopted daughters are coming home for the holidays and she can’t wait to see them. But tensions are running high…

Workaholic Hannah knows she can’t avoid spending the holidays with her family two years in a row. But it’s not the weight of their expectations that’s panicking her—it’s the life-changing secret she’s hiding. Stay-at-home mom Beth is having a personal crisis. All she wants for Christmas is time to decide if she’s ready to return to work—seeing everyone was supposed to help her stress levels, not increase them! Posy isn’t sure she’s living her best life, but with her parents depending on her, making a change seems risky. But not as risky as falling for gorgeous new neighbor Luke…
As Suzanne’s dreams of the perfect McBride Christmas unravel, she must rely on the magic of the season to bring her daughters together. But will this new togetherness teach the sisters that their close-knit bond is strong enough to withstand anything—including a family Christmas?

My Review.

Having previously enjoyed Sarah Morgan’s books I was looking forward to this one. Unfortunately, for me it didn’t deliver, perhaps because my reading time was fragmented. I was continually having to  remind myself who was who .If you can find some solid blocks of reading time, I’m sure its enjoyable

Mrs Spy by M.J Robotham

Get ready for a pulse-pounding, laugh-out-loud ride through 1960s London as Maggie Flynn, unexpected MI5 operative and single mum, unravels the intelligence agency’s most treacherous secrets.


Maggie Flynn isn’t your typical 1960s mum.

She’s a spy, an unsuspecting operative for MI5, stalking London’s streets in myriad disguises.

Widowed and balancing her clandestine career with raising a Beatles-mad teenage daughter, Maggie finds comfort and purpose in her profession – providing a connection to her late husband, whose own covert past only surfaced after his death.

But Maggie’s world spins out of control when a chance encounter with a mysterious Russian agent triggers a chilling he knew her husband. And what’s worse, the agent suspects someone on home soil betrayed him.

As Maggie searches for answers, she’ll question everyone – and everything – she thought she could trust. In the murky and perilous world of espionage, can she outsmart those determined to keep her silenced?

352 pages, Hardcover

My Review.

An interesting take on the spy genre, less glamour and more hard graft. Can an ordinary mum really find answers and if she does, who and what, does she endanger? Thought-provoking, but to me not quite believable.

Meanwhile, my cat sleeps on without a care in the world.

Will I ever finish this manuscript? It’s taken over two years of my life, but the end is in sight. I will miss it, but look forward to holding a real book in my hands instead of the many pages of notes and computer files. And the year end is approaching with a host of birthdays and Christmas festivities. I have another project once this memoir is finished an as yet untitled Viking romance already written and critiqued. But , that’s for next year.

A Sentimental Journey through September Memories

September, we were hoping for spring weather in the Southern hemisphere, but it’s been wetter than usual. Time to curl up with a good book, or even time to try and write one! My reviewing philosophy is,if I didn’t finish a book, or disliked it, I don’t review it.Taste is personal and what appeals to me, may not appeal to you. That’s fine, well have differing expectations and experiences we bring to our reading.


I’ve been industriously building my memoir.Like a spider’s web it has many strands.

I’m 92,000 words or so into the memoir and Im hoping to send it to my editor shortly. Briefly, it tells how when my marriage broke up, I started working as bus conductor in 1960 Britain

I worked on double decker buses.

Her Majesty’s Royal Coven By Juno Dawson

If you look hard enough at old photographs, we’re there in the background: healers in the trenches; Suffragettes; Bletchley Park oracles; land girls and resistance fighters. Why is it we help in times of crisis? We have a gift. We are stronger than Mundanes, plain and simple.

At the dawn of their adolescence, on the eve of the summer solstice, four young girls–Helena, Leonie, Niamh and Elle–took the oath to join Her Majesty’s Royal Coven, established by Queen Elizabeth I as a covert government department. Now, decades later, the witch community is still reeling from a civil war and Helena is now the reigning High Priestess of the organization. Yet Helena is the only one of her friend group still enmeshed in the stale bureaucracy of HMRC. Elle is trying to pretend she’s a normal housewife, and Niamh has become a country vet, using her powers to heal sick animals. In what Helena perceives as the deepest betrayal, Leonie has defected to start her own more inclusive and intersectional coven, Diaspora. And now Helena has a bigger problem. A young warlock of extraordinary capabilities has been captured by authorities and seems to threaten the very existence of HMRC. With conflicting beliefs over the best course of action, the four friends must decide where their loyalties lie: with preserving tradition, or doing what is right.

Juno Dawson explores gender and the corrupting nature of power in a delightful and provocative story of magic and matriarchy, friendship and feminism. Dealing with all the aspects of contemporary womanhood, as well as being phenomenally powerful witches, Niamh, Helena, Leonie and Elle may have grown apart but they will always be bound by the sisterhood of the coven.

My Review

Initially I enjoyed reading  this and the concepts it explores .Women are so often simply  a foot note to history, marginalised or ignored. A story about women and not just women , but women with extraordinary powers was  appealing. The empathy Niamh shows was very relatable.  However, because  I was reading it over a few days I gradually got confused about  who each character was.

  The concept of a ‘cursed child’ is often the stuff of fantasy so that too was relatable. Gradually, I began to experience less enjoyment in reading, feeling  I was reading a polemic. I finished the book and  decided that although the story remained unfinished, I wouldn’t read  further volumes. It wasn’t for me; it may be for you.

Jane Austen, the Secret Radical by Helena Kelly.

A brilliant, illuminating reassessment of the life and work of Jane Austen that makes clear how Austen has been misread for the past two centuries and that shows us how she intended her books to be read, revealing, as well, how subversive and daring–how truly radical–a writer she was.

In this fascinating, revelatory work, Helena Kelly–dazzling Jane Austen authority–looks past the grand houses, the pretty young women, past the demure drawing room dramas and witty commentary on the narrow social worlds of her time that became the hallmark of Austen’s work to bring to light the serious, ambitious, deeply subversive nature of this beloved writer. Kelly illuminates the radical subjects–slavery, poverty, feminism, the Church, evolution, among them–considered treasonous at the time, that Austen deftly explored in the six novels that have come to embody an age. The author reveals just how in the novels we find the real Jane Austen: a clever, clear-sighted woman “of information,” fully aware of what was going on in the world and sure about what she thought of it. We see a writer who understood that the novel–until then seen as mindless “trash”–could be a great art form and who, perhaps more than any other writer up to that time, imbued it with its particular greatness.

My Review.

Jane Austen subversive. Jane Austen deliberately employed the despised novel not just to entertain, but also to inform her readership ,about so much that was going on in her time. The idea of Jane,  a spinster, who hadn’t travelled far, as a country mouse is far from the truth. She had five brothers , men who were involved with the church, the military and the war. Doubtless she heard and understood plenty ,from the conversations around her and formed her own opinions. She had sisters in law whose pregnancies she observed, and she knew that this was a dangerous time for a woman as many died in childbirth. Of course her thinking permeated her novels-but she still wrote to tell an entertaining story, or who would buy her next book?

The Radio Hour: A Novel by Victoria Purman.

From the bestselling author of The Nurses’ War comes this charming, funny, pointed look at the golden years of radio broadcasting in post-war Australia, celebrating the extraordinary unseen women who wrote the radio plays that held a nation captive. For readers of Lessons in Chemistry.

Martha Berry is fifty years old, a spinster, and one of an army of polite and invisible women in 1956 Sydney who go to work each day and get things done without fuss, fanfare or reward.

Working at the country’s national broadcaster, she’s seen highly praised talent come and go over the years but when she is sent to work as a secretary on a brand-new radio serial, created to follow in the footsteps of Australia’s longest running show, Blue Hills, she finds herself at the mercy of an egotistical and erratic young producer without a clue, a conservative broadcaster frightened by the word ‘pregnant’ and a motley cast of actors with ideas of their own about their roles in the show.

When Martha is forced to step in to rescue the serial from impending cancellation, she ends up secretly ghost-writing scripts for As The Sun Sets, creating mayhem with management, and coming up with storylines that resonate with the serial’s growing and loyal audience of women listeners.

But she can’t keep her secret forever and when she’s threatened with exposure, Martha has to decide if she wants to remain in the shadows, or to finally step into the spotlight.

My Review.

I’ve just finished reading The Radio Hour,  I enjoyed it so much and  it really resonated with me. Maybe young women today will realise how far women have come and how easily those gains could be lost .

All this happened in my lifetime. It pains me to think how disparagingly women and girls were treated. Underappreciated, underpaid and the hard working glue that often held companies together. Casual sexism was a way of life.

The Vintage Village Bake Off by Judy Leigh.

Now in his seventies, Robert Parkin is stunned to find himself the unlikely sex symbol of the village gardening club.

Living in happy solitude with his cat Isaac Mewton in the Devon village of Millbrook, entertained by his mischievous chickens and goats, Robert has never figured out the rules of romance. But as the local ladies vie for his company, it soon becomes clear that Robert’s Victoria Sponge cake is the lure, and as his baking prowess grows, so does his confidence.

Cheesecakes, meringues, puddings, Robert can do it all, but his real masterpieces are his scones – ginger, rosemary, coconut, fruit, his recipes are inspired and soon come to the attention of the local media. Which county does the best cream tea – Devon or Cornwall? It’s time for an age-old debate to be settled with a competition.

Robert’s sisters Bunty and Hattie are both at crossroads in their lives, so news of their brother’s baking competition is the perfect excuse to bring them to Millbrook. And as the siblings relish each other’s company, and Robert relishes being at the heart of his community, a summer of scones may just light the way to long-lasting happiness for them all.



My Review.

I’m surprised the blurb for the book starts with Robert, as he only appears halfway through the story. Initially, we are introduced to Hattie, who is regaining her confidence after her controlling husband left her. It’s a delight to see her venture into new territory ,encouraged by her good  neighbour.Then Bunty arrives, having left her marriage and Hattie had to assert herself. Robert  lives in Devon and is a doyenne of the local gardening club. His sense of humour is revealed in the names of his  animals, but his romantic senses are lacking. The local ladies vie subtly and not so subtly for his attentions. The cookery competition between rival counties is a highlight. Mouthwatering concoctions are mentioned and it’s a shame the book didn’t include a recipe section.

Close-up of a person holding and preparing to eat a cupcake topped with cream and a strawberry.
This book definitely made me feel hungry!
More about life as a bus conductor next time.

Finding Joy in Books During Rainy Days

August wasn’t a happy or productive month for me. Winter often affects my mood and August is winter in Australia.This was our wettest winter in over thirty years. Additionally, there was a family bereavement , numerous and expensive vet visits for my diabetic cat and if that wasn’t, enough there were low temperatures as well as almost continuous rain.

Do you find that the weather influences your mood? I believe Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD syndrome is real. The TV shows, mostly repeats held little appeal, so once again, I turned to books.

Would you disturb him to get a book?

Just One Taste by Lizzie Dent.

“I love, love, love Lizzy Dent.”—Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Olive Stone is about to spend four weeks in Italy with the most beautiful man she’s ever hated.

When Olive Stone and her Italian pseudo-celebrity chef father fell out fourteen years ago, annoyingly handsome Leo Ricci slipped right in as his surrogate son and sous-chef. No one is more surprised than Olive when her father wills her his beloved (and now failing) restaurant. Or that his dying wish was for Olive and Leo to complete his cookbook…together.

She’s determined to sell the restaurant. Leo is determined to convince her not to. As they embark on four weeks in Italy, traveling from Sicily to Tuscany to Liguria, they’ll test each other as often as they test recipes. But the more time Olive and Leo spend together the more undeniable their attraction grows. Olive finds herself wondering whether selling the restaurant might be running away, and what it might be like to try Just One Taste of Leo Ricci. Because he isn’t who she expected, and this trip might reveal more about who Olive is than she’s ready for.

My Review.

If you enjoy a good “enemies to lovers’ “ story, then this will appeal. Add to that those  stunning descriptions of  regional Italy and the mouthwatering  food. For Olive the  trip is a necessity to fulfill her father’s wishes, it doesn’t mean she has to enjoy it, or to like Leo. However unwillingly she does start to appreciate Leo’s good qualities and feel a growing attraction between them.Maybe  just one taste of  Leo’s lovemaking will satisfy her curiosity?

The Stranger Times by C.K Mc Donnell, Caimh Mc Donnell

Stranger Times 1

There are dark forces at work in our world (and in Manchester in particular), so thank God The Stranger Times is on hand to report them…

A weekly newspaper dedicated to the weird and the wonderful (but mostly the weird), it is the go-to publication for the unexplained and inexplicable. At least that’s their pitch. The reality is less auspicious. Their editor is a drunken, foul-tempered, and foul-mouthed husk of a man who thinks little of the publication he edits. His staff are a ragtag group of misfits. And as for the assistant editor… well, that job is a revolving door–and it has just revolved to reveal Hannah Willis, who’s got problems of her own.

When tragedy strikes in Hannah’s first week on the job, The Stranger Times is forced to do some serious investigating. What they discover leads to a shocking realisation: some of the stories they’d previously dismissed as nonsense are in fact terrifyingly real. Soon they come face-to-face with darker forces than they could ever have imagined.

432 pages, Paperback

My Review.

I have mixed feelings about this one. It is cleverly written and the premise that all those odd things reported in the wackier press are true, plays into our love of conspiracy theories. But it’s cold , all at one emotional pitch-which feels very much like newspaper reporting. Of course, this may have been a deliberate stylistic choice, but it doesn’t tempt me to continue with the series,

Foul Play at Seal Bay by Judy Leigh.

Morwenna Mutton Mystery 1

A brand-new series perfect for Richard Osman readers and all fans of a page-turning whodunnit.

 It was meant to be the start of quiet season in the sleepy Cornish village of Seal Bay, but not for sexagenarian librarian and wild swimming enthusiast Morwenna Mutton. Because when a local businessman is found on the beach with a bread knife is his back, bungling police officer DI Rick Tremayne is soon out of his depth. Morwenna knows it’s going to be down to her to crack the case.
The list of people the victim upset is long, the evidence is slight, and an arrest illusive. Morwenna has plenty to occupy her time what with ghostly goings-on at the library and skulduggery at her granddaughter’s school, but she could never resist a challenge. And even the most ruthless of murderers should quake at the sight of this amateur sleuth getting on her bike to track them down.
If you love Miss Marple and The Thursday Murder Club, then you’ll love The Morwenna Mutton mysteries.


My Review,

The start of a new series by popular author Judy Leigh, so of course, there is quite a lot of “set up” involved. It’s easy reading, although at times it feels a bit repetitive. Heavy footed detective  DI Rick Tremayne is almost a cartoon cop. I guessed the solution and was proved right.

Second Act at Appleton Green: An absolutely heartwarming and uplifting romance about family, love and starting over by Kate Forster.

When the curtains close, a new beginning waits in the wings

After losing her voice before the audition of a lifetime, West End hopeful Lily Baxter flees to the one place that’s always felt like her grandmother Violet’s cosy cottage in the heart of Appleton Green.

Violet is overjoyed to have Lily back under her roof, even if it’s not under the happiest of circumstances. As Lily muddles through lost dreams and what-ifs, Violet is quietly nursing her own worries-and hoping this unexpected visit might help them both them heal.

When charming local nurse Nick encourages Lily to join the village’s amateur dramatics group, she reluctantly agrees – and soon finds herself swept up in script readings, prop-painting parties, and something that feels a lot like falling in love.

As opening night draws near, Lily must decide where her heart truly back in the bright lights of London, or centre stage in Appleton Green.



My Review,

Lily seems to be living her dream, getting call backs to audition for roles she wants. When her voice deserts her ,so does her confidence. She needs comfort and sanctuary and finds it with her perceptive grandmother Violet in Appleton Green. The two have always shared a deep bond of understanding.
It’s time for Lily to decide what her future holds, what she wants. The village has ( mostly) taken her to their heart. And there is local nurse Nick, who supports and encourages her. Yet, even in the village there is rivalry and jealousy. Does Lily want a lead role on stage, or something different in her life? Time to choose.
I enjoyed this book for the lovely relationship between Lily and her grandmother, Violet. Her relationship with her mother struck a chord and of course, I felt just a little bit in love with Nick!

Thanks to Net galley for an advance copy.I read this  earlier in the year. I couldn’t release my review until now.

The Duke’s Runaway Bride by Jenni Fletcher.

Regency Belles of Bath  3

When Beatrix, Duchess of Howden, writes to her estranged husband offering a divorce, she’s stunned when he arrives on her doorstep with a different proposition: a six-week marriage trial! Quinton Roxbury seems cold and inscrutable, but Beatrix gradually realizes his rough exterior hides a heavy burden. As their connection deepens, dare she trust him with her own scandalous past and risk the marriage she never knew she wanted?


My Review.

An easy-to-read enemies to lovers with enough hesitancy make it interesting.

The Return of Her Long-Lost Husband by Joanna Johnson

A husband’s redemption…
A second chance at love?

Nathaniel Honeywell returns from being presumed dead expecting to be welcomed home with open arms. He’s shocked when his wife, Hester, isn’t pleased to see him! But Nathaniel can’t blame Hester for believing he abandoned her when she needed him most… During their marriage, he foolishly valued money over his wife. Now his experiences have left him a changed man, and as the simmering attraction between them grows, Nathaniel is determined to prove it!

My Review.

Couldn’t help but feel for Hester over the return  of her thick-headed husband. Then, her happiness in discovering him a changed man.  Hints of his past suffering…and why his character changed. All good .Then, I lost patience with Nathaniel ..

Starting September with a more optimistic frame of mind , a cat to cuddle and of course, a heap of new books to enjoy. Do you read more in winter?

Rainy Day Reads, July 2025.

It’s been a rainy July here in Perth, Australia, with only a few bright and sunshiny days. But, that has meant that it’s been  the perfect weather for reading and I’ve enjoyed the books listed here.

How great to be inside on a rainy day with a good book.

The title alone captivated me, so I had to read Assistant to the Villain. Another intriguing tile was The Bad Bridesmaid, by West Australian Author Rachael Johns. A friend recommended The Fragments to me and I’m so glad that she did.

A summer snap of my boy!

Domestically my cat stopped eating which resulted in a very anxious time for me, a bit of indignity for him and a hefty vet bill. Luckily, he’s on the mend now.

As I’m writing this the rain is still pouring down. Trees are bowed with the weight of rain and my cat has decided he is firmly an indoor cat.

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer.

Once Upon a Time meets The Office in Hannah Maehrer’s laugh-out-loud viral TikTok series turned novel, about the sunshine assistant to an Evil Villain…and their unexpected romance.
ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, level-headed assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem and terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.

With ailing family to support, Evie Sage’s employment status isn’t just important, it’s vital. So, when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer―naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie.

But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain―and his entire nefarious empire―out.

Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay.

After all, a good job is hard to find.

My Review.

Late to the party, but I’d heard so much about this book that I wanted to read it. It’s a  fast-paced  romp that had me laughing out loud. I could totally understand Evie’s attraction to The Villain. Its grumpy/ sunshine, but Evie is no fool and predicts the Villain’s temperament and moods better than most. While he’s getting under her skin, is she also getting under his?

I cursed at the “to be continued ending” and went looking for book two.That is the problem , we readers can read in a day or two, books that have taken months or even years to write.

Widows Waive the Rules: Age is Just A Number! by Julia Jarman

The BRAND NEW laugh-out-loud novel page-turner bestselling author Julia Jarman ☀️ Perfect for fans of Maddie Please, Judy Leigh, and anyone who thinks age is just a number! 🍷 The Widows Wine Club of Viv, Janet and Zelda have navigated choppy waters before. Having supported each other through the first shaky years of widowhood, the future was starting to look brighter. But when Janet is dealt another blow, it’s all hands on deck for the firm friends.

Deciding what Janet needs is a change of scenery, Viv and Zelda book a luxury cruise on the Queen Mary 2, heading for the bright lights of New York. And once on board, the women are entranced. A floating pleasure palace, the Queen Mary is just what the doctor ordered. From tai chi to dance lessons, cocktails to crafting, there’s nothing they can’t do to while away the miles at sea.

But when they are joined at their first supper by fellow widow Primrose Carmichael, the holiday takes an unexpected turn. Because not only does Primrose share Janet’s surname, but their late husbands were both called Mal… As the similarities between the two women stack up, so do Viv and Zelda’s suspicions. Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery before they’re in sight of the Statue of Liberty, the friends are ready to waive a few rules…

Julia Jarman’s warm, wise and witty novels are perfect for everyone who believes age is just a number. Perfect for fans of Caroline James, Judy Leigh and Maddie Please.

My Review.

I picked this because I wanted a light and easy read and that’s exactly what I got, with a bit of intrigue thrown in. This is entertaining light reading. It’s part of a series, but it didn’t matter that I hadn’t read the earlier books. Part travelogue for the Queen Mary Two( you will want to travel on her) and part mystery ,the book straddles both genres with ease.Female friendships and burgeoning romance add to the mix.


Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer.

NOTICE TO STAFF: There has been a disturbing increase in cheeriness, sprightly behavior, and overall optimism of late. Please resume your former dark, ominous terrors at your earliest convenience. ―Mgmt

Evie Sage has never been happier to be the assistant to The Villain. Who would have thought that working for an outrageously handsome (shhh, bad for his brand) evil overlord would be so rewarding? Still, the business of being bad is demanding, the forces of good are annoyingly persistent, and said forbidding boss is somewhat…er, out-of-evil-office. But Rennedawn is in grave trouble, and all signs―Kingsley’s included―point to catastrophe. Something peculiar is happening with the kingdom’s magic, and it’s made The Villain’s manor vulnerable to their enemies…including their nemesis, the king. Now it’s time for Evie to face her greatest challenge: protecting The Villain’s lair, all of his nefarious works, and maybe (provided no one finds out) the entire kingdom. No pressure, Evie.

It’s time to step out of her comfort zone and learn new skills. Like treason. Dagger work. Conspiring with the enemy. It’s all so…so…delightfully fun.

 

My Review.
 Yes, it is all, so…delightfully fun.  Again, there is a “ to be continued.” which I expected and I’m prepared to wait. The dynamic  shifts and shifts again. And we all love a  bad boy ripe for reform, don’t we? Or, is Evie changing?

The Bad Bridesmaid by Rachael Johns

When serial dater Winifred Darling – Fred – is asked to be the maid of honour at her mother’s sixth wedding, she’s determined to do everything in her power to stop it. As the author of a forthcoming book called 21 Rules for Not Catching Feelings, she knows better than most about the perils of falling in love.

On arrival at the island wedding destination, Fred is delighted to discover that the groom’s hot muso son Leo is just as set against the wedding as she is. Together, they come up with ‘Operation Break-Up’ to prevent their parents from making what they believe will be a catastrophic mistake.

But as Fred and Leo get to know each other better, their unexpected feelings for each other create further complications, and Fred is forced to rethink her own rigid rules about romance and family. Maybe not every relationship has to play by the book, and could Fred become the star in a romcom of her own?

A heart-warming friends-to-lovers romance about the magic and mayhem of weddings – and what happens when everything you thought you knew about love is turned upside down.


My Review.

Rachael Johns just keeps getting better. This is a fun and relevant story with the growing popularity of hook ups and online dating. Fred is a veteran of the dating scene and quite cynical. This contrasts with her ever- romantic mum, who Fred fears is heading for yet another failure. Hot Leo is in complete agreement that the wedding shouldn’t take place .Spending time together is only to stop the disastrous wedding, isn’t it?

The Fragments by Toni Jordan

INGA Karlson died in a fire in New York in the 1930s, leaving behind three things: a phenomenally successful first novel, the scorched fragments of a second book— and a mystery that has captivated generations of readers.

Nearly fifty years later, Brisbane bookseller Caddie Walker is waiting in line to see a Karlson exhibition featuring the famous fragments when she meets a charismatic older woman.

The woman quotes a phrase from the Karlson fragments that Caddie knows does not exist—and yet to Caddie, who knows Inga Karlson’s work like she knows her name, it feels genuine.

Caddie is electrified. Jolted her from her sleepy, no-worries life in torpid 1980s Brisbane, she is driven to investigate: to find the clues that will unlock the greatest literary mystery of the twentieth century.

My Review.

A friend recommended this dual timeline book and I’m pleased that she did.It concerns a historical literary mystery. One that has puzzled fans and researchers for decades.  How can an unknown Brisbane bookseller know so much about it, be involved, and convinced she  has the answers the world had  waited for? I enjoyed finding out.

Flowering bulbs herald Spring!

Suddenly, it’s August and here in Western Australia, we are counting the days until Spring. Blue skies and warmer days would be very welcome.Spring was my favourite season in the Uk, it is here as well. My scented narcissi and grape hyacinth bulbs have braved the cold and wet and are flowering.Promising sunnier days ahead.

Patiently waiting for Spring!

Warm Drinks and Good Books: Perfect Winter Companions.

Here in the Southern hemisphere, its winter and time to get cosy. What is cosier than a purring cat, a warm drink, tea or coffee, your choice and a good book to read? This month I’ve read a few books, as well as starting to learn watercolour painting and attending two other art classes.

Reminder: As an expat Brit living in Australia I use British spelling

Time
to get cosy.

Same Time Next Week by Milly Johnson


      Welcome to Spring Hill, home to a square of independent shops and cafes, a thriving local community and nearby the newest  venture, Ray’s Diner. Here a group of women meet once a week  over a cup of something warming.
 
      Amanda is primary carer to her elderly mother and one of the only women in a  male-dominated company. Used to being second-best all her life, is this her time to finally break ranks and shine?
       
      Sky works at the repair shop, patching up old teddy bears, and their owners’ hearts. But her heart beats for the one man who is strictly off-limits.
 
  Mel has been a loyal and loving wife to Steve for thirty years. Then when he   goes to his old school reunion, life as she knows it will never be the same again.
 
      Erin is trying to get over a traumatic loss where her guilt weighs more than her grief. Can she find the first step to healing lies in sharing an hour with strangers   once a week? 
 
   Astrid is feeling in need of a change and a challenge. But when a fantastic    opportunity presents itself, who is around to convince her she is worthy enough to take the risk?
 
   Can these women find the answers to their worries, acceptance, courage,         support here? Join them at the same time next week to find out…
 

My Review. There is something so recognisable about the trials and tribulations that these women face. Unrequited love, sexism, tokenism, infidelity, loyalty. And where do they find support? From other women. A couple touched me more than others, downtrodden Amanda who can never please her deluded mother and Mel, shaken to the core by her husband’s actions. If you’re like me, you will be cheering them on from the sidelines. Milly Johnson’s writing  has the warmth to be compared to Maeve Binchy’s work.

Second Act at Appleton Green by Kate Forster.

After losing her voice before the audition of a lifetime, West End hopeful Lily Baxter flees to the one place that’s always felt like home: her grandmother Violet’s cosy cottage in the heart of Appleton Green.
    Violet is overjoyed to have Lily back under her roof, even if it’s not under the happiest of circumstances. As Lily muddles through lost dreams and what-ifs, Violet is quietly nursing her own worries-and hoping this unexpected visit might help them both them heal.
    When charming local nurse Nick encourages Lily to join the village’s amateur dramatics group, she reluctantly agrees – and soon finds herself swept up in script readings, prop-painting parties, and something that feels a lot like falling in love.As opening night draws near, Lily must decide where her heart truly lies: back in the bright lights of London, or centre stage in Appleton Green.

My Review.

I was fortunate to get a pre-release copy through Net Galley. It’s out in October.

Lily seems to be living her dream, getting call backs to audition for roles she wants. When her voice deserts her ,so does her confidence. She needs comfort and sanctuary and finds it with her perceptive grandmother Violet in Appleton Green. The two have always shared a deep bond of understanding.

It’s time for Lily to  decide what her future holds, what she wants. The village has ( mostly) taken her to their heart. And there is local nurse  Nick, who supports and encourages her. Yet even in the village there is rivalry and jealousy. Does Lily want a lead role on stage, or something different in her life? She has to choose. I enjoyed this book for the lovely relationship between Lily and her grandmother, Violet. Her relationship with her mother struck a chord and of course, I felt just a little bit in love with Nick! 

Murder Takes Root by Rosie Sandler.

Steph is excited to get her hands stuck into her latest gardening project. This time, she’s been commissioned by Lady Clara of Ashford Manor to restore the stately gardens to their former glory.
      But the estate is suddenly thrown into chaos when a dead body is discovered in one of the rooms. The police rule it as suicide, though Steph’s convinced they’re barking up the wrong tree. Because she knows the deceased better than they do and it could only be one thing: murder. And if the police won’t listen to her, then Steph will have to get to the bottom of the case herself.
      As Steph starts digging for the truth, it seems the staff are hiding are more than it seems. But one thing is for sure, she’s not going to let the killer lead her up the garden path…

My Review.

This is the second book in the series, but not having read the first didn’t spoil my enjoyment of this book .Steph, a garden consultant, is accompanied by her large dog called Mouse. They make an engaging pair of sleuths, while of course garden matters are highlighted, there is also a suspected murder .It seems the police are happy to accept the death as suicide , but Steph isn’t convinced. A relatable cosy mystery that will appeal especially to gardeners.

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris By Evie Woods

Edie is … not in Paris?

Edie Lane left everything behind in Ireland for a once-in-a-lifetime job at a bakery in Paris. Except, thanks to a mistranslation, the bakery is not in Paris, and neither is Edie.
      The tiny town of Compiègne, complete with its local bakery on the Rue de Paris, holds many secrets. This might not be where Edie intended to be but it’s not long before she realises it’s exactly where she needs to be…

My Review.

      An adventure, Edie has finally braved fulfilling her dreams and is setting off for Paris. But by some twist of fate her destination isn’t Paris at all. I found  the story engaging and enjoyed it. Although at times there was so much factual information it read a bit like lecture notes. It was necessary to understand parts of the story but perhaps could have been better conveyed. Evie is a relatable heroine, and I  learned a lot.

The Last Will And Testament Of Daphné Le Marche By Kate Forster.

        Paris, 1956. Eighteen-year-old Daphné may be from a tiny French village, but   she knows she’s destined for more. Stepping off a bus into bustling Paris with a suitcase full of her home-made beauty products, she’s ready to do whatever it takes to claim her stake in the world.

      London, 2016. Scandalous love affairs and an iconic cosmetics brand have    kept Daphné Le Marche in spotlight – but her darkest secrets have never         come to light. Now, in her London penthouse, enveloped in her rich signature scent, the Grande Dame of glamour has died.
  But not even those closest to her could have been prepared for what came     next.
      The Last Will and Testament of Daphne Le Marche is a sweeping story of    heartbreak, scandal and the importance of keeping it in all the family…

My Review.

Reminded me of the sex and shopping sagas of the 1980s. It has all the ingredients to make  a tv mini-series. Beauty, youth, rivalry ,love affairs, scandals and power dynamics. The world knew Daphne Le Marche as the enigmatic head of a cosmetics empire; they didn’t know how that began, and what her success has cost her. Now her heirs are about to find out far more than they expected. Kept me guessing!

The Riviera House Swap by Gillian Harvey

Would you swap houses with a stranger? Nina has always played it safe. But when her divorce papers come through on her fortieth birthday she decides enough is enough.

She’s always chosen the sensible route, staying in her stable job and marrying her rather boring ex. In fact – she realises – she’s chosen security over excitement for years. Ever since she refused to elope with her first beautiful, poetic, thoughtful Pierre, the man she met aged 17, on her French exchange. The only man who ever made her heart race.

Maybe it’s time to take a few risks?

Impulsively she goes online and finds another kind of French exchange… a house-swap. She can’t imagine what French businessman Jean-Luc wants with her terraced home in rural England, but she can’t wait to stay in his beautiful, spacious, bougainvillea-strewn villa on the French riviera.

She’s not just there for the house though. She’s decided to find the love she missed all those years ago. But will Pierre still be the man of her dreams after all this time?

As two lives collide, will love bloom on the French riviera? A gorgeously escapist story for fans of The Holiday, from the bestselling author of A Year at the French Farmhouse.

My Review.

Easy reading escapist fiction. A whim results in a house swop and  life reappraisal. I guessed several plot points, but it was easy and undemanding reading, that not to say it is easy to write like this, it isn’t. Great for those times when you simply want to escape your mundane life.

What next?

I’m still working on my memoir, as I have for almost two years. It’s slowly taking shape and I think the end is in sight.That is both exciting and a little scary!

Unexpectedly, I’ve been asked to run a few writing workshops.It’s always good to connect with other creative people.

My cat’s diabetes has returned, so we are back to him getting twice daily injections .He’s very good about it.

I have another stack of book to read for next month, hope to see you then!

Happiness is being cosy and having a good book!



Book Reviews: Love, Philosophy, and Cozy Mysteries.

Spring in the Northern Hemisphere but heading into winter in the Southern Hemisphere.

It’s getting chillier and wetter in the Southern Hemisphere,  so it’s  ideal weather to curl up by the fire with a good book. Here  is what I read in May. I’ve read part of more books, but I choose not to review any book I haven’t finish as that seems unfair .

I’m British expat living in Australia and as such I use British spellings.

I’ve also been working on my memoir, which at times has brought up some uncomfortable emotions. But it’s a little bit of social history, and also the story of my unexpected short term career as a bus conductor Many people have been generous with their time to help me reconstruct the past.

Sifting through memories.

Love Life: How to Raise Your Standards, Find Your Person, and Live Happily by Matthew Hussey.

In Love Life, relationship coach and expert Matthew Hussey explores the most important and foundational relationship of all—the one we have with ourselves.

More than a book about navigating our love lives, Hussey’s new book is about the deeper issues our love lives reveal. Love isn’t the answer to our problems, Hussey explains. It’s a doorway to them; not a way out, but a way in. Like most of us, Hussey has gone through major changes over the past decade, and he shares some of those experiences, vulnerabilities, and mistakes.

What happens when we date, fall in love, or when we are faced with loneliness? What decisions do we make that cause us more pain and send us further adrift from what we want? Who hasn’t shied away from taking risks because they feared rejection? Who hasn’t put up with the wrong behavior because they’re afraid of losing someone or of expressing what they really need? Who hasn’t lived with the fear and anxiety of not being good enough for their partner? Or knowing their partner isn’t good for them, but stay in a bad relationship that is ultimately self-harming? In Love Life Hussey addresses these questions and more.

Our love lives hold the uncanny power to elevate or eradicate all the adjacent joy in our lives. The deeper purpose of Love Life is to ensure your love for your life will never be dependent on your relationship status. It’s about finding your love for life even while still on the journey to finding your person

      My  Review.

I was expecting something more from this much hyped book. More insight, suggestions and actual practical advice. Instead, the book veers through personal reminiscences and excerpts of advice. Organisation of the topics could have been clearer and better.

The Philosophy of Love by Rebecca Ryan.

What is love? Is it something spiritual or wholly physical? Can our feelings be explained and quantified? Or are we all actually two halves of a whole?

Ask Alice and Luke and you’d receive vastly different answers.

Despite her world having been recently dismantled by a messy break-up, Alice would tell you that love is the most important – albeit ineffable – human experiences. But when she once again crosses paths with her old school nemesis, Luke, he challenges this. Luke is a scientist and he’s certain love can be measured and explained – just like everything else.

So the two decide to make a  bet they’ll each venture back into dating and if one of them falls in love, Alice wins, if not, then Luke does.

But can anyone win when you’re playing with emotions?

 My Review

I enjoyed this quirky tale of love laced with philosophy. Do we plan to fall in love, can we plan it, or resist it? What if the person we are meant to be with isn’t the person we expect? Luke takes the objective scientific approach to life and to love. Alice leads with her heart as they discuss philosophy and love.

The Paris Bookshop for the Broken-Hearted by Rebecca Raisin.

Can you ever swear off love, in the city of love? Coco is having a hell of a month. She’s lost her boyfriend and her business, been forced to uproot her daughter to move back in with her parents in Paris, and now an infuriatingly handsome stranger is yelling at her for acting like a tourist… Right underneath the Eiffel Tower.

Storming away from him – and swearing off men for life – she decides she’s going to take the first job that comes her way.

Then, as if fate hears her, later that day she stumbles into a little bookshop – but not any old bookshop. This one comes complete with a café, cocktail bar, reading room and secret tunnel of books, and just a little hint of magic in the air. So when Coco’s offered a job selling books there, it feels like the perfect fit.

There’s only one problem… propping up the bar in the bookshop is none other than the grumpy, gorgeous stranger she’d met earlier that day…

A totally romantic, bookish and gorgeously escapist romantic novel, set in Paris in Springtime. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, and Sarah Morgan.

My Review.

Rebecca Raisin knows the delights of Paris well and allows her characters to explore them in this gorgeous book. You will feel as if you are propping up the bar and meeting all the characters in this starting over romance. Relationships and friendships, parental relationships and romantic ones all devolve around the bookshop.

Witch You Well by Collen Cross

Westwick Witches 1

A Westwick Witches Cozy Mystery Novel Cendrine “Cen” West has an intriguing secret. . . Cen is a journalist descended from a long line of powerful witches who have inhabited the small town of Westwick Corners for generations. Except, Cenis a witch who craves an ordinary life, and as the family black sheep, she doesn’t even want to dabble in the craft. . . much to her troublemaking Aunt Pearl’s dismay.

Then days before Cen’s wedding to a “normal” guy, a visiting billionaire is murdered at her family’s cozy inn–and now all evidence points to her eccentric Aunt Pearl. If Cen hopes to prove her aunt’s innocence, she will have to embrace her own magic and do a little sleuthing. Yet her investigation only uncovers more questions than answers after she discovers a supernatural connection to the murder, a strange vortex beneath the town, and a disturbing secret about her gorgeous fiancée.

For help she turns to the town’s sexy new sheriff, Tyler Gates. But working with him only adds more complications to her already harried life once Cen starts feeling an overwhelming attraction to the no-nonsense man.

But are her feelings for Tyler real, or just the result of pre-wedding jitters? Cen will have to find out! And will the two of them be able to get past their personal baggage to solve the case in time to save her aunt?

My Review.

This really sounded promising but unfortunately for me it fell a bit flat. It has all the ingredients for a cosy witchy mystery,small town, family, secrets, hot guy , so you may feel differently.

My cat and I will snuggle up and enjoy the pause in the seasons.

As I’m writing more, I’m not reading as much, but I will always have a book or three on the go. Other people’s word entertain me and inspire my own.

Finding Love and Magic in Life’s Later Chapters

April always makes me think nostalgically of bluebells. A strong childhood memory is of entering a bluebell wood, and feeling I was in the presence of magic. The stillness, the shade with the carpet of blue flowers all around me. The subtle scent of the massed flowers. Of course, I’d pick some, although I knew I wasn’t taking the magic home with me. Clutched in my hot little hand they would wilt almost as soon as we left the wood.

Now here in Australia I can still get nostalgic, remembering my childhood. This month reinforcing my nostalgia, I’ve been reading about London and Ireland

It is easy to believe in magic in a bluebell wood.

Aged to Perfection: A funny and feel-good later-in-life romantic comedy proving that passion has no age limit! By Niloufar Lamakan

‘Dating in your 60s? This is what you need to know.’ The Telegraph

At sixty, Sophia Stone outdoes Bridget Jones in this deliciously daring romcom!
Sophia is determined to grow old disgracefully and refuses to be invisible. She craves fiery passion and steamy romance, not targeted ads for funeral plans. After a heart-shattering breakup, she ditches love to date a new man each week for a year.
As she flirts, fumbles and sips fizz through an array of encounters, from an opera buff in a cape to an orgasm whisperer, she discovers it’s never too late to rewrite your own love story, even if it’s not the one you expected…

My Review.

As someone who has dipped her toe into the online dating pool, I found this interesting, but a tad unrealistic. But of course, London, England, is totally different from Australia. At first, I thought it was an amusing concept but inevitably it became a bit repetitive.  Her goal to meet a new man each week is pretty well unachievable as you get older. So, it’s good for light reading, but don’t take it too seriously!

The Guest House By The Sea by Faith Hogan

    People come to the guest house for fresh air and views across the Atlantic.      But if they’re lucky, they might just leave with the second chance they didn’t know they needed…
      Esme has run the guest house for as long as anyone in Ballycove can remember. But in her declining years, her sight is failing, and when she has a fall on the eve of the summer season, she is forced to take a back seat for the first time in her life.
      From her chair in the entry hall, not much passes Esme by. There’s Cora, the wife visiting indefinitely… without her husband; Niamh, the city professional       with a life-changing decision to make; and Phyllie, the grandmother whose family is slipping away from her.
      Esme’s guests provide the colour that helps her keep her grip on the world. All of them have something they want to escape – or to hold on to. But can Esme help them find their way before the summer is over?

    My Review

    Reading this it almost felt as if I was staying there with the guests but with the added bonus of being privy to everyone’s thoughts and feelings. Each woman is facing some crisis or personal dilemma. Even Esmee who is incapacitated and forced to direct operations from her chair in the entry hall.  Many women will relate to Cora who has finally realised how lack lustre her marriage is. Can it be redeemed or should she start again? Niamh is seeking both emotional distance and clarity. While Phyllie wishes things could just stay the same. As with many Irish writers’ this book is filled with ‘heart and empathy.

Case Histories by Kate Atkinson

   In #1 of series, Jackson Brodie PI follows three 30-years cold, unconnected Cambridge family cases:
      1 A little girl disappears in the night.
      2 A beautiful young office worker falls to a maniac’s attack.
      3 A new mother is overwhelmed by demands from her baby and husband – until  a fit of rage creates a grisly, bloody escape.
Result : Startling connections and discoveries emerge. . . .

389 pages, Paperback First published September 1, 2004

My Review.

In many ways an unsettling book. Events happen seemingly at random, and I kept reading through interest and wanting to discern a pattern. Can events from thirty years ago still resonate? They can, they do. If you want things neatly solved and explained this isn’t the book for you.

The Girl I Used to Know by Faith Hogan

A beautiful, emotive and spell-binding story of two women who find friendship and second chances when they least expect it. Perfect for the fans of Patricia Scanlan.

Amanda King and Tess Cuffe are strangers who share the same Georgian house, but their lives couldn’t be more different.

Amanda seems to have it all, absolute perfection. She projects all the accoutrements of a lady who lunches. Sadly, the reality is a soulless home, an unfaithful husband and a very lonely heart.

By comparison, in the basement flat, unwanted tenant Tess has spent a lifetime hiding and shutting her heart to love.

It takes a bossy doctor, a handsome gardener, a pushy teenager and an abandoned cat to show these two women that sometimes letting go is the first step to moving forward and new friendships can come from the most unlikely situations.



My Review.

For me , it was a more emotional read than the previous Faith Hogan book. I read The Guest House by the Sea. And enjoyed it. Perhaps because there were only two major characters in The Girl I Used to Know , that  enabled me to feel more closely connected to them

 It was easy to relate to Amanda,  gradually aware that the surface perfection of her marriage is a façade.

Tess, alone, a bit bitter and lonely with spiky energy. Long held in hurt can hide in anger, I loved how her heart softened first towards the cat, then young Robyn, and gradually other people. Recommended.

A relaxing break with a good book

I’ve not managed as much reading as I would have liked this April. I was midway through another book which I will post about next month. I have been continuing working on my memoir and the end is in sight. It has taken me about two years and I find it intriguing how one memory can spark another. Some of my memories are painful and it’s given me a deeper understanding and allowed me to let them go.

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