So here in the Southern hemisphere its winter and that is the perfect time for snuggling up with a good book. One question remains for me. Why haven’t I read more? I’m way behind on my reading target of 100 books for the year, as so far I have only read 34.

Part of the reason is I’ve been writing- a non fiction book which is very close to my heart, a memoir. You will hear more about that in the coming months.

The Regent’s Menagerie anthologies had a successful launch and hit number one in their categories. Congratulations to all my fellow authors I’ve a lot of reading to do to catch up on all these fabulous stories.

Surprisingly too, I’ve found things to watch on tv although I haven’t been watching Bridgerton series 3. As with my reading, I was preferring darker themes. I’ve spent time playing with the app and generated a series of portraits of me. Interestingly, all of them were brunette although I’m a blonde.

Possibly my reading has influenced my tv viewing.

A Big Boy Did It and Ran Away by Christopher Brookmyre.

Back when they were students, just like everybody else, Ray Ash and Simon Darcourt had dreams about what they’d do when they grew up. In both their cases, it was to be rock stars. Fifteen years later, their mid-thirties are bearing down fast, and just like everybody else, they’re having to accept the less glamorous hands reality has dealt them. Nervous new father Ray takes refuge from his responsibilities by living a virtual existence in online games. People say he needs to grow up, but everybody has to find their own way of coping. For some it’s affairs, for others it’s the bottle, and for Simon it’s serial murder, mass slaughter and professional assassination.

My Review.

I’m on a bit of a Brookmyre kick at the moment. This is the third one I have read and I found it mostly enjoyable. As some other reviewers have said it lost impetus around the halfway mark and it could easily have been cut without losing anything. The thirties are a time for reflection and for both Ray and Simon life has deviated from their plan. Once members of an unsuccessful rock band, that glittering existence is still out of reach. Ray has accepted he has to grow up and has become a teacher. Simon has other darker plans, all the more easily accomplished now that he’s officially dead.  At times serious, at times funny, I snorted with laughter when reading it.

Berry Grove Bed And Breakfast by Sarah Hope

When Kim Reynolds learns how unhappy her daughter is, she realises the perfect remedy is a completely fresh start.

Giving up the corporate job she’s worked towards for her entire life, Kim is determined to make Berry Grove Bed & Breakfast a success, but more importantly, she’s determined to support her daughter Mia as she settles into her new life.

But when Danny, Kim’s childhood sweetheart, turns up, buried feelings and a complicated secret threatens to jeopardise their newly discovered peaceful lifestyle.

Can the two people Kim loves most in the world understand and forgive her for keeping them apart?

A story of family, love and friendship, perfect for fans of Holly Martin, Jessica Redland and Polly Babbington.

288 pages, Kindle Edition Published February 25, 2024

---

My Review.

While initially enjoying the book and Kim’s ” take no prisoners” attitude in her corporate job in part one. By part two, she appeared to have undergone a character change and kept second-guessing herself, postponing decisions and setting herself up to fail. It didn’t work for me.

The Revenge Club by Kathy Lette.

When the odds are against you, it’s time to get even. Matilda, Jo, Penny and Cressy are all women at the top of their game; so imagine their surprise when they start to be personally overlooked and professionally pushed aside by less-qualified men. Only they’re not going down without a fight .Society might think the women have passed their amuse-by dates but the Revenge Club have other plans. After all, why go to bed angry when you could stay up and plot diabolical retribution? Let the games begin…

PRAISE FOR KATHY ‘Deliciously rude and darkly funny’ Nicole Kidman ‘Unputdownable’ Stephen Fry‘ The thinking lady’s hornbag.’ Kath and Kim.

My Review.

I had high hopes for an enjoyable read and it does contain some witty one-liners and examples of horrible misogyny. Successful women are suddenly ‘just not up to it’ because they have dared to age. Unfortunately, the central premise required too much suspension of disbelief for me. While the finale accelerated it even further,

Return to Half Moon Farm-prt4 Winter Magic by Holly Hepburn

*PART FOUR in the brand new series from Holly Hepburn, perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley and Katie Fforde**
When Daisy’s mother falls ill she is forced to return home. With her twin sons in tow, she moves back to Half Moon Farm, her family’s ancient hop farm.  

But a new life in the Kent countryside isn’t necessarily as idyllic as it might seem. Daisy’s relationship with her mother is complicated and the tumbledown farm isn’t the only thing that needs rebuilding. Daisy and her sons must adjust to life with estranged family, a leaking roof, and no WIFI.

Luckily for Daisy, she might yet find some distraction in silver fox farmer, Drew, or in the haughty heir to the nearby estate, Kit, who she can’t seem to avoid.

Daisy must learn to juggle her new life, the boys, and the daunting task of updating the farm. But there are secrets lurking in her family’s past that might throw everything into further disarray… 112 pages, Kindle Edition

My Review.

No real surprises, and all loose ends are tied up. It’s an enjoyable read that rounds out the story. Personally, I don’t enjoy this format and would prefer to wait until the whole story is available.

The Venice Hotel by Tess Woods

When the lives of four very different women become entangled in a boutique Venice hotel, dark secrets unravel and not everyone who checked into the hotel will check out again.

Signora Loretta Bianchi, the world famous cook at Venice’s Hotel Il Cuore, is forced to choose between once-in-a-lifetime passion and her devoted husband.

Sophie, on assignment in Venice as a food writer, finds a lot more than Signora Bianchi’s secret recipes to love, but what is the charming Rocco hiding?

Law graduate Elena is sinking just like the endangered city she’s returned home to, and she’ll stop at nothing to be free from her marriage.

Grandmother Gayle’s dream Venetian holiday turns sinister as she finds herself embroiled in a life or death escape.

Set against a backdrop of the romance and tragedy of magical Venice, The Venice Hotel explores the powerful bonds that develop between women in times of crisis, and the healing power of female connection.

352 pages, Paperback

Expected publication September 3, 2024

Book details & editions

---

Tess Woods has done it again with The Venice Hotel. It features four fabulous characters who I cared about and I often recognised aspects of myself in their behaviour. The fifth major character is the city of Venice itself, beautifully beguiling and under siege from its visitors. I was totally caught up with the story and stayed up way too late to finish it. My Advance Reader Copy was an absolute pleasure to read, 5 stars!

One Fine Day in The Middle of the Night by Christopher Brookmyre.

The occasion: high school reunion.
The place: an oil rig converted into a tourist resort.
The outcome: carnage.
Gavin is creating a unique ‘holiday experience’; every facility any tourist who hates abroad will ever want will all be available on a converted North Sea oil rig. To test the facilities he’s hosting a reunion for his old school (none of his ex-classmates can remember him, but what the heck, it’s free). He is so busy showing off that he doesn’t notice that another group have invited themselves along – a collection of terrorist mercenaries who are occasionally of more danger to themselves than to the public.
And they in turn are unaware that Inspector MacGregor has got wind of their activities. Within twenty-four hours Gavin’s dream has blown to the four winds, along with a lot of other things.
Dress Casual. Bring your own bullets.

373 pages, Paperback First published January 1, 1999

My Review.

I’ve mixed feelings about this book as initially I found it confusing. Gradually it became clearer, and I found the school reunion intriguing, contrasting the then and now. The last third fairly paced along I could not put the book down as I raced through the last hundred pages. Even then there was an additional surprise. Not for the squeamish, but otherwise good fun.

Jane Austen “There is Nothing Like Staying Home for Real Comfort.”

Winter encourages us to semi hibernate.

And for the most part I have been doing that, snuggling down with my cat and keeping warm.

But rules are made to be broken!

I had a leftover birthday treat in store. A friend had bought tickets for an Abba tribute show- with Bjorn Again and what a fabulous evening it was. Two thousand people all intent on having fun, singing ,swaying , applauding. Oh what a night it was! Foot tapping, arm waving, smiling and singing.

Next month I intend to be hard at work on the memoir ,as well as attending two art classes, my writing group and catching up with friends. Wonder how much reading I will manage next month? What are you reading? Do you read more in winter?