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.

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.

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.

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!