Book Reviews

The Names

Florence Knapp

Read June 2026

What a chilling tale! What is in a name? Well I can tell you quite a bit especially in this book! We are witnesses to three "names" three very very different outcomes, three incredible stories. @florenceknapp_ takes domestic abuse to another level in this book, an indepth look into how a family was shaped by the actions of everyone. For each timeline or name given to the new born boy you get a look into how that boy's life was drastically changed by the actions of his father and mother. This was haunting tale that left me speechless and I've not stopped thinking about it. Definitely a must read to everyone, check trigger warnings before you do. This will stay with you for some time to come.

Funny Story

Emily Henry

Read June 2026

I mean this was just the best thing I've read in a while!! Absolute joy! I have no idea where Waning Bay is but I'm moving there tomorrow because Miles, oh yes Miles, he is just a dream isn't he? I loved the banter between him and Daphne and this whole tale felt like a fairytale! What possibly more can a girl want. This was choas and sobering reality at the same time, the most fun I've had in a while, while reading a book. The story was unique and endearing and kept me entertained all the way through! Great read, highly recommend!

The Moon Sister (The Seven Sisters, #5)

Lucinda Riley

Read June 2026

Just when I thought this series can't possibly get any better, @lucindarileybooks pulls out this stunner to leave me totally in awe! From the Scottish highlands through to the gypsy caves in Spain I was enthralled by this. The research that went into this is astounding like always! Tiggy is such a warm and beautiful character, it made sense to know where she came from. The focus on this story was her discovering her gypsy gifts and learning to use them and it was glorious! Yes there was a little love involved as well and even that made perfect sense! As always I am left stunned at the end and would highly recommend to all historical fiction fans!!

Bad Blood: A gripping and gritty gangland thriller (The Anderson Family Trilogy Book 2)

Maya Ross

Read June 2026

I couldn't wait to get started on this to see where the Anderson family goes next. Well let me just say this is bloodied and scarier than the first. Maya gripped me from the first page and had me mesmerised by the shocking and scary under belly of gang land uk. There was a decent amount of growth from all the known characters from the previous book and added in was the scary Freddie Billingham and what he is capable of. Eve and Jasmine are going through some tense situations and I cant help but wonder if their relationship is salvagable. We have a dark horse on the horizon and I bet we will learn more about him in book 3. This is fast paced with incredibly vivid scenes that will have you wanting more. Fantastic read for fans of crime victims and lovers of gang related content.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil

V.E. Schwab

Read June 2026

What a fascinating read! @veschwab has such a calm in luring writing style, it felt like I was drifting in-between worlds. Spanning over 3 time lines it was clear that each of these stories had the same albeit different experiences. At points I was angry and felt hurt and at other elated with joy. This was an incredible journey trough the lives of the three female vampires and the loves and lust that made them. If you are looking for a book that will mesmerise you then you have found it.

The Crossing Places (Ruth Galloway, #1)

Elly Griffiths

Read June 2026

I loved this so much! Ruth is a down to earth, realistic and sensible character and I immediately felt connected to her. Her love for her cats and her constant self insight into her weight issues made me love her more. @ellygriffiths17 did an amazing job at describing the salt marshes and the surrounding area, I have a vivid picture in my mind and would love to go see it myself one day. Nelson is a bit of an Inigma and I'm looking forward to getting to know him more. This was a great read, full of clues that are uncovered and analysed to get to the truth. There are some very sad situations that broke my heart as well, and even a tiny bit of romance. Great read for crime readers and great new series.

The River Muse

Laura Resau

Read June 2026

This was incredible! The writing combined with the setting made for an enchanted read. @lauraresau has the incredible ability to make a story come alive! Her descriptive writing painted a very vivid picture in my mind and it was like I was there in the French Countryside along with Callie. This had a magical feel to it and it definitely helped with breaking the tension because there were some very hard topics discussed in the book. What I appreciate was the fact that the story highlights the fact that you don't have to accept your circumstances and there is always a way out. My emotions were all over the place while reading this, a sign of a great book in my opinion! Fantastic read - you will find hope and found family and even romance in this book, a great read that I would highly recommend.

All the Light We Cannot See

Anthony Doerr

Read June 2026

This was an interesting read. The writing was beautiful and Anthony captures the surroundings so vividly, if you close your eyes you can create a magnificent picture and almost hear those sounds. So here is the thing the back and forth between timeliness got a bit confusing for me and I honestly still don't get really what the book was about. Although it was moving and tugged at the heart strings it was missing something that should grab my attention. As far as historical fiction goes - it was good but not great for me.

Project Hail Mary

Andy Weir

Read June 2026

Well this was just incredible! @andyweirofficial managed to write this fascinating story with a humongous amount of science information and it came across as a conversation. The writing worked, the plot worked it was tasteful and sufficiently scary at the same time! I loved Ryland was such a loveable character, his characteristics came through clearly in the writing. Tasked with the fate of the species on his shoulders he still came through as a humbled, funny and hard working guy. Then Rocky , well oh my goodness - how can I not love him! The last half of the story with his interaction was incredible, more accurately in Rocky's own words "amaze amaze amaze" This was a feel good story at the end and even if you are not into sci-fi you should read it, it has a bit of everything and if you are lucky you will have this on your mind for many days to come! Will you read this, question?

Margo's Got Money Troubles

Rufi Thorpe

Read June 2026

Well this one just blew me over! This was such a good read! The vast amount of emotions I experienced while reading this is commendable. From happy to angry, devastated to elated, I think this book covered most if not all! This was a sobering look into the world of a single mom who just wants to work and keep custody of her child. The stigma around certain jobs were discussed throughout as well as the family courts and child services. What a unique view on all the above! This is my @rufithorpe book and I will definitely be looking into her others. Highly recommend this, you will not be disappointed!

Murder Under Redwood Moon (Murder, Tea & Crystals #1)

Sherri L. Dodd

Read June 2026

Well this was an interesting read! A murder mystery with a paranormal witchy twist! I loved how vivid @sherri.dodd.author described the area and nature, it gave an extra layer to the story and I could clearly build the are in my mind! There is a good balance between the time lines and bringing in the magic layer by layer. There was a never a dull moment throughout. I loved the twists and surprises intertwined with the magic. It took me a minute to get into this but once there it was a smooth read. Great for Murder mystery fans that is looking for something different.

Norwegian Wood

Haruki Murakami

Read June 2026

What a book for the time that it was written in! Granted today it would have gone down easy but back in the 80's not so much. This was to me a coming of age story, a memoir of sorts of student Toru. I found his struggles real and although he came across sometimes as selfish it was not done in spite I believe. The story was fascinating and kept me entertained and even sad at stages. Great read!

Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass, #2)

Sarah J. Maas

Read June 2026

This was the book that made me fall head over heels for the Maasverse and well just romantasy in general. I loved how the story progressed from the assisin side to the magic side. There were some tough lessons learned in this. Calaena as a character had inmense growth in this book and her strong character os shining through. Well listening to the audiobook compared to reading the paperback definitely had some differences. I picked up a lot from the pronunciations and the nuances that you might not get will reading a paper copy. Everything single bit of information is key in these books! On to the next!!

The Socialite Murder (The Resident Thriller Series Book 2)

Jessi Kroft

Read June 2026

What a great pshycological thriller!! Kylie, Blake and Stratton (from The Resident Murder!!) are back and wow this did not disappoint. From the first page you are pulled into this crazy, world of socialites, parties and living the high live in the Hamptons. Perfect world right .... or is it. Celeste, who lives next door to Stratton seems to have it all, but as the story progresses we get to the bottom of this ugly world she lives in. It was great to have a front seat look into how the other side lives and I can't say I'm jealous. When there is a murder the Trio starts to investigate for themselves and what unfolds is hard to believe. The panic and fear was palpable throughout. I had this sense of dread floating in the back of my mind all the way through! What an intense storyline! I was hopping between suspects and did not guess the twists till the very end. Nerves of steel are needed for this one! Would highly recommend to thriller fans! I can't help but hope that @jessi_kroft will have another book following this as it feels like this trio has some stories left in them!!

HOW TO LEAD, INSPIRE AND DEVELOP HUMAN DIGNITY: A practical leadership guide for building ethical, efficient, and high-performing teams, without the fluff

ZORAN VIDOVIĆ

Read June 2026

What a fascinating read this was! @zoran_vidovic20 starts this book of by giving valuable insights into starting a company of your own! From Mission statements to protocols and procedures. I found this to be very insightful and stacked full of knowledge with real world examples. I would implore any person starting a business to read this book! Next we have leadership skills and tactics, which again was explained so well and easy to understand. From hiring process to employee feedback to a very detailed explanation of different leadership styles. I found this very helpfully in determining my own leadership style. At the back of the book there are questionnaires and checklists to help you with your role of business owner and/or leader. If you use this tool correctly your business can't help but succeed! This was truly a wonderful read.

Julie Chan is Dead

Liann Zhang

Read June 2026

I friggen loved this!! I was hooked from the first few sentences and I loved going down this crazy rabbit hole! Let's start with saying that I thought Chloe was just awful and my little heart was rooting for Julie all the way! @theliannz did a fantastic job with this plot! I was so invested to see where this was going. I did not for the life of me expect it to end how it did! I was floored!! What the actual!!! I was going into a total different direction! I loved the mystery and craziness. This was such a pleasure to read!! Ideal for thriller fans!

A is for Amy

Steven Crandell

Read June 2026

I absolutely loved this!! This romance novella hit me with all the feels! I went from laughing out loud to super sad in a few pages and back again! This tackled some serious subjects in a earnest and digestible way. @sscrandell masterfully navigated these topics with undeniable flair. This was relatable and down to earth. I felt connected to Amy in so many ways and I thought she dealt with everything in a very calm and cool way. As for the love interests let's just say it was swoonworthy- I can't give away too much .... you will need to get the book to find out! This was a great read and a very nice pick me up that had me smiling at the end like a silly preschooler. Highly recommend to anyone that need a little love in their life!

Tam's Tale

Michael Findlay

Read June 2026

Well what a peculiar story this was! The mix of folk lore and magic had me interested from the first page. I believe that fate is real and this story relates to that in so many ways. @michaelalistairfindlay Skillfully draws you into the story and you can't help but get lost in the pages. The amazing art in the book @lonericcraven was simply breathtaking, each piece fitting so well with the story as you progress. The journey Tam had to go through to reach his destination was incredible. From the minute he found that eye his life was changed drastically. I loved how he had a support network of friends and helpers who didnt know him from a bar of soap and yet protected him fiercely. I love Mrs Percival she was such a clever character, her fast thinking and nonchalant attitude saved the day on a few occasions and I think Kristine learnt a lot from her. The chaos in Colonia was diabolical, I loved every second of that! The ingenious ways they plans was set in motion and the trickery involved left me speechless. This was a great story and would highly recommend to fantasy fans.

Point Blank

Tana Collins

Read June 2026

Well i think I've found a new series to get stuck into now! This was excellent! I immediately fell in love with Fletcher - she is a no nonsense character that seems to have amazing instincts. This was fast paced, with action straight from the first chapter. As we progressed and the story evolved, it was quick to realise that there is more to this than just a murder. Thanks to Fletcher and her tenacity we soon had direction. I loved the setting of this, the small community made it seem more tense almost ludicrous that a murder was around. I know I started at the back of this series but this does seem like a good one! I will have to start at the beginning. It would be great to get background on characters like Carruthers and Greg. Overall great read - would highly recommend to crime fans!

The Divorce

Freida McFadden

Read June 2026

How dark and twisty was that!?!? It feels like the last few @fmcfaddenauthor books I've read were seriously messed up! The level of crazy has been AMAZING!! We all know she is the queen of twists, and this is no different! I was totally shocked by this one, I mean it seems like I was rooting for the wrong person! Needless to say I thoroughly enjoyed this and if you are a Freida fan - this should go to the top of your list!

The War of the Roses

Warren Adler

Read June 2026

I struggled with this one. I didn't quite connect to the characters and it is supposed to be a dark comedy and I did not get that vibe. I thought the characters were very unlikeable as well as their actions. Some of it left me shocked, but then again I suppose the point of the book was to highlight the destruction involved in a divorce. Maybe I wasn't in the right frame of mind when reading this, not sure. Either way it will be a good book for contemporary fiction readers.

The Midnight Library (The Midnight World, #1)

Matt Haig

Read June 2026

What a fascinating story! People forget that depression is a very debilitating illness and it can happen to any of us, what this book has done was highlight the fact that even when you think someone is happy or they have it all, for them it does not feel the same. I loved that Nora could explore different lives and experience all the things she thought she needed. It is impossible to tell someone you are enough - they have to believe it themselves and @mattzhaig did a fantastic job in bringing this concept to light. I sat on this for a while and I am still thinking of it. I don't know about you but I have definitely had dark days where the I truly believed the only way out is to end it and having a perspective like this has certainly put things into a different perspective for me. Thank you for writing this.

Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1)

Sarah J. Maas

Read June 2026

The first time I read this I rated it four stars and I think that the sheer volume of characters might have been too much at that stage, but now I've done a reread and honestly I loved it the second time around! There were little nuggets in between that made more sense now and the urgency of her plight meant so much more to me this time around. Fantastic piece with extraordinary world building. If you haven't gone down the Maas verse yet .... you need to stat!!!

Little Grey Cells: (The Jessica Sinclair Mysteries Book 2)

Faye Brann

Read June 2026

I absolutely love this series! I mean it just has everything, from mystery to murder and stacked full of the razor sharp wit from @writerfaye that I have now begun to love. The dynamic trio of Jess, Della and Darcy are back with a bang, dropped unknowingly into their first locked room murder mystery. I love the absolute chaos that entails when these three are on the job and their somewhat crazy ways of solving the mystery gives for a thrilling read. They make an excellent team and it comes shining through in the writing. I enjoyed the pace of this, there was never a dull moment and I flew through this book at break neck speed. Every clue leading to a suspect made me believe it was them and I did not anticipate where this was going to end, and boy when the penny dropped I was stumped. Very cleverly done and will be a great read for crime thriller fans.

A Particularly Nasty Case

Adam Kay

Read June 2026

I did not for a second expect to be laughing out loud in the middle of a murder mystery, yet @amateuradam had me in stitches! ( not the doctor kind .....) I loved how fast paced this was and the utter chaos surrounding every situationinvolving Eitan made my day! The witty lines describing these interactions is what made this book for me. I did feel bad at stages for Eitan as it seems the poor fella has a lot on his plate but kudos for adding a murder mystery on top of it! The plot was sound and I had no idea who the killer was till the very end. Loved every second of this!! Will be great for Murder mystery fans!

In the Name of the Flame

Alexia Muelle-Rushbrook

Read May 2026

Oh my goodness, what an incredible story!! I was hooked from the first words and finished this in one sitting. @alexia_muelle_rushbrook did an amazing job with the world building, I felt like I was right there next to Niall. I loved how descriptive this was. As for the magic system and the Dragons... well simply exquisite doesn't quite cover it but comes close. I really enjoyed the pilgrimage as well, this is such a unique system of becoming charred with a dragon. I adored the cheekiness of the dragons, the fact that they all had such varied personalities came through clearly in the book. Over all the plot was fascinating and kept me engaged the whole way through and I actually can't wait to continue this in the next book. I highly recommend this to fantasy readers, especially one that LOVE dragons!!! Just amazing!

Captain Corelli's Mandolin

Louis de Bernières

Read May 2026

This had me go through a range of emotions and ultimately ended on a bittersweet not. When WW2 spills over onto this Greek Island the consequences are dire. The writing of this was exquisite and created a sense of melancholy all the way through. A fantastic tale proving yet again that love will stand the test of time.

Queenie of Norwich

L.K. Wilde

Read May 2026

What an incredible true story! This tugged at every single heart string and at stages I just sat there staring off into space, trying to understand the list of things that this poor child went through. Let's start with the fact that Ellen/Queenie most certainly had an incredible life! I thought it was so incredibly brave to adjust to each new situation she was thrown into. @lkwildeauthor most certainly did her great grandmother proud by writing this life story. The vivid descriptions ensured that you were pulled into the story, like you were there eating gingerbread with her. She was not just brave and clever, she had a good heart on top of it and that for me made this whole story, her resilience shone through page after page. I highly recommend this to all historical fiction fans, this was a heartfelt story that will give you those feel good chills!

The Falling in Love Montage

Ciara Smyth

Read May 2026

I honestly did not know what to expect from this one and I was so pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed this, @ciaraiswriting did such a good job with this. It was written very well and I got lost in the pages. I thought the list for the summer fling was such a cute concept and I thoroughly enjoyed ticking off the boxes with Saoirse and Ruby. The banter between Saoirse and Oliver was fantastic! There were some some hard topics covered in this and I felt it was done with immense respect. I loved the inclusion of the rom coms and I might use their lost to rematch some of my favorites. I felt the varied range of emotions off the characters like they were my own and it took me back to when I was that age, the confusion, angst, hormones and overall chaos of being that young came through beautifully in the writing. Great story, I will highly recommend this not just to YA but Romance lovers as well!

The Beekeeper’s War

Deborah Carr

Read May 2026

Oh my goodness this was such a heartfelt tale. I had a myriad of emotions while reading this, such a good story. This was set over the two world wars, starting in 1916 and finished in 1940. I am still wrapping my head around the fact that these people had survived two wars. @deborahcarrauthor did an amazing job depicting the range of emotions that comes through in this novel and the vivid descriptions of the Manor and the island left me wanting to go see that. I loved the bees and the symbolism of them, it added another layer to the tale. From frustration to elation this book had it all! It will be a great read for historical fiction fans!

Letters from the Last Apothecary (Tressport Magic, #1)

Bita Behzadi

Read May 2026

I absolutely loved this!! This was a delightful mix of romance, historical fiction, murder mystery and fantasy! The magic was simply amazing and I loved how it was explained. I think this was by far the best explanation of mages and witches that I've ever read. The dreamy voices of @em_wylde and @samaranaeymi Added a layer of mystique that went down so well with the overall theme of the book. The letters between Josie and Clark were a fantastic added touch and added body to the story. As a debut I think @bitabehz did incredible! I loved the vivid descriptions of the town and the Apothecary- it felt like home in the end. The story had a continuation that made it effortless to listen to and I was anticipating what was going to happen next with baited breath. The banter between Reid and Josie was a pleasure to listen to. Fantasy and historical fiction fans will love this! I am very excited to see what the the next book in the series holds! Thank you to @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse and @hayhouseuk for this advanced copy.

The Final Vow (Washington Poe, #7)

M.W. Craven

Read May 2026

Can you give a million star rating to a book? Well I did just now!! How the heck do I end up crying tears of joy at the end of a very dark thriller? Well @m.w.craven managed to drive me to it of course! What an incredible story! I cannot even begin to say thank you enough! This was dark and sad and terrible in so many ways, a killer that thrives on misery in the worst possible way. But of course Poe and Tilly with their very crazy ideas are on the job and boy, what an exhilarating couple of hours I've just had! The deception and twists are genius and I have to bow to Mr Craven and say well done, you are a master at writing thriller! The perfect amount of murder, a decent dash of emotion and of course the incredible duo and their banter and ideas - nothing compares to this series. I recommend this over and over, this will be one of those series that you never knew you needed until you found it !

Three Days Grace

Jeremy C. Bradley-Silverio Donato

Read May 2026

What an incredibly sad tale. From the first pages you are immediately flung into this uncomfortable and awkward world. @jeremycbradley sets a very specific tone in the book and it lasts till the very last chapter. I found this story very sad, what Nick and Jeremy went through is something no person should ever have to experience. As the story goes along and you discover more and more, you cant help but fall into this pit of despair with Nick. Navigating his emotions with him was a journey of discovery for myself as well, the story is so immersie that you can't help but look at yourself and your life as well. This was very well written and I had the constant urge to continue reading without stopping till it was done, absolutely mesmerising. This is one one that will stay with you for some time!

A Fatal Austen Affair: A Blossoming Romance in Bath and a Most Unfashionable Cosy Crime Mystery (The FitzMorris Family Mysteries)

Anna A Armstrong

Read May 2026

What a cosy crime this was! The addition to everyone being in Regency wear definitely added an additional layer to this tale. At times I felt swept up in the pretence and I could almost imagine myself being back in the days of Jane Austen. I enjoyed they characters - my favourites being Zara and Nicholas - it was such a delight to watch the back and forth between them. I cant help but wonder what their interactions in the previous books in the series was like and I will have a look into this cosy crime series soon. As for the plot - it was well thought out and I was sept up into the romance of the dress up, and for the life of me could not figure out who the killer/ adductor was. This was a delightful to read and will recommend to crime fans!

The Night She Disappeared

Lisa Jewell

Read May 2026

I loved this! Fast paced and packed full of the unknown! The jump between time lines was enjoyable and didn't give to much away until the very last! I felt thoroughly confused till the very end and loved every second of it! The pacing was incredible through this book keeping me on my toes. Great read from @lisajewelluk - thriller fans will not be disappointed!

Dear Debbie

Freida McFadden

Read May 2026

Well who doesn't love a good old @fmcfaddenauthor mystery, and this one did not disappoint! The queen of plot twists gave us another fantastic tale. So let's just start of with saying I loved Debbie! I feel that we could have been friends in another life! She is bold and not scared to stake her claim and she does it in such diabolical ways - its fantastic! I did not see the plot twists coming - in was honestly on a way different track but then when they came i found it to be glorious!! Loved this book!!

The Pearl Sister (The Seven Sisters, #4)

Lucinda Riley

Read May 2026

These stories just get more interesting as we go along! I honestly did not know all these things of Australia! We follow the next one of the sisters CeCe on her quest to find her family and what a fascinating tale! Not just did I learn so much about Australia but also about art. It looks like we are well on our way to a journey around the world with the sisters. The description of the outback was mesmerising and I desperately want to see it for myself now as well. If you have not yet started this, you definitely should, it's a fantastic series! I can't wait to see what the next sister has in store for us!

One for Sorrow (D.I. Callanach, #7)

Helen Sarah Fields

Read May 2026

I simply have no words! I've sat on this for a week now. A week since I've finished this, a whole week since @helenfields_author has ripped my heart out of my chest, a whole week thinking of this book and toying with what is next. I cried like a baby in this, almost non stop! The utter devastation and loss described in this book, the raw anguish I felt reading this is indescribable. What a terrifyingly terrific pshycological thriller this was. The intricate way this was put together blows my mind and I can only come back with one comment, masterpiece!! Thank you for making me suffer Helen (not!!!!) I really hope this is not the last one in the series!!!

The Malfunction: Book 1 of the Deilonium Trilogy

Orval Wax

Read May 2026

What a fascinating read! Orval pulled me into this world from the first word and what an amazing world it is! I have a very vivid picture in my mind. I actually liked Lance so much and I am rooting for him. Call me crazy but I felt sorry for him on a few occasions throughout the book. Charlie on the other hand was a bit different - i dont know why I didnt like it is cant quite put my finger to it - it could be the killing of the bears or just because he doesn't come across as a pleasant person. This was action packed and had my adrenaline going! The writing was great and made the book feel like a race and everyone was competing to get to the end goal. I must say I am very interested to see what will happen in book two.

A Dream Life: A Memoir

Wendy Swift

Read May 2026

When I started the book I thought what a fascinating life, full of travel and adventure and I almost wished I was born in that 60's and 70's era because @wendyjswiftauthor made it seem magical. And then it didn't. I was floored by the next bit - and utterly amazed at how she survived this. I thought she did an incredible job of retelling this unbelievable story. I was struck with the harsh reality that in a blink of an eye your life can go a different route that you would have never expected. This was eye opening and I commend her for putting her story to page - it was indeed a dream life!

The Dark One (Vicious Lost Boys, #2)

Nikki St. Crowe

Read May 2026

This was a continuation of the story and I almost want to say this could have worked well as being one book. For me it didn't have the awe of the first one. Yes we do get to interact with more of the Neverland characters which was interesting. And of course the spice was ....deliciously dark and satisfying.

The Flight

Heather J. Fitt

Read May 2026

Oh my goodness this intense! @heatherjfitt had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through! This was an excellent depicting of a closed room murder! I loved how their story unravels and gain traction with each new relevation and boy were there a lot!! The twists were incredible and with each one I sat there mind reeling wondering how did I miss that! A story with so many morally grey characters always turn out to be fun because you never see it coming! This was gripping from page one and it never let up and I loved that!! What a fantastic pshycological thriller!!  I could not have asked for better! Thriller fans will love this.

Mrs. Benedict Arnold

Emma Parry

Read May 2026

What a fascinating read! I am not very familiar with American history so I jumped at the opportunity to read more about it, and what a tale this was! Between reading this and my own research, it is clear how well the author did her research! Her description of the events were a much more palatable account than the stark hard truth of the reality. It is still a very accurate retelling of the history. Perhaps it was my lack of knowledge of American history that made this book seem a bit overwhelming at times. There are a lot of characters and I struggled to keep them straight in my head at times. I can't help but wonder if it might have been easier to follow in an Audiobook. As for Peggy she comes across as childish and selfish and I didn't get that impression of her when I read up her a bit after. This was a great historical fiction and fans of this genre will not be disappointed!

The Never King (Vicious Lost Boys, #1)

Nikki St. Crowe

Read May 2026

Well holy hell - where has this tasty morsel been hiding . Why have I only just now discovered this!! This was fantastic!! A retelling of Peter Pan including the lost boys ( IYKYK) My childhood has been rewritten and man oh man I am now looking for my own Pan! This was fun and steamy and very naughty. And @nikkistcrowe has gained a new fan!!!

Queen of the Night (Black Crown, #1)

A.N. Stauber

Read May 2026

Well this was just fantastic!! To my absolute delight Jericho and Rose is back and Jericho is getting a wife!! So you have to know that I always thought Jericho needed some love and hence my absolute delight when I discovered he is getting it. Albeit arranged but still.. he deserves it! I come Evie and it took me a minute to try and understand her, but when I did, oh my days my heart broke in a million pieces. I loved the slow burn in this - is was hovering on the edge throughout this and it was great! Solid plot with some very steamy scenes and a healthy dose of murder and mayhem!! Perfect for a Tuesday night in!!! Narration by @walkerwilliamsvo and @molly.briar added an additional layer of seduction I didn't know I needed and over all this was a great start to a new series!!! Excited for book two!

Fire: Ash

Hristina Bloomfield

Read May 2026

Oh my days, I loved this so much!!! From the first few pages you are sucked into this tale and from there on it just does not let up!! Chapter after chapter, new clues and situations are uncovered, all of it happening in such a well orchestrated and thought out sequence. @hristinabloomfield did such an amazing job painting a very realistic and vivid picture. Something is happening in Balkan and what started out as a fire became so much worse. Character development with Cassy was amazing - to see her growth for my own eyes was commendable. What I did not expect is a tad of romance and that ending - that threw me!! I am still processing it, trying to put the pieces together! I guess book two will have my answers!!! Great read - can't wait for the next one!

Spies, Lies, and Alibis

Natalie Walters

Read May 2026

This was so much fun!! I mean straight from the first page you are dumped into the extreme world of espionage, where the stakes are high and mistakes are inevitable. Cyril and Ben are such likeable characters and I totally fell in love with their story. There is a good amount of steamy romance with no spice. And boy there are enough tense situations and a tad of action smattered throughout. A few times this had me in stitches and I felt it gave to book a nice balance! The narration by @andreweiden and Dominique Salvacion was excellent and their voices complimented they character very well. All in all a great great with a good dose of laughs and a smidgen of romance! Thanks to @netgalley And @thomasnelsonfiction for this advanced reader copy

Deadly Summer

Gillian Jackson

Read May 2026

This was absolutely insane!! What a story!! So first I have to say it took me a minute to get into this, but after about 50 pages I was hooked! This was the craziest murder mystery I have ever read! Rich woman dies and everyone immediately goes with the husband right .... well, I genuinely thought that as well!! But then there are the shady step children, the actual children, the weird housekeeper, a presumed dead ex husband and some shady employees, not to mention one of the police teams "blind date"... yeah I didn't get it this time either! The tension in this book was palpable and at some point everyone was under suspicion. The police team lead by Sam did some excellent police work and it was genuinely enjoyable watching this case unfold. I am so chuffed to have found @disamanthafreeman and I cant wait to see what her others books hold for me!! Excellent story - it will definitely keep you entertained!

Wishes on the Waves

Catherine Michaels

Read May 2026

I enjoyed this! This was cosy and sweet and a tad sad. Both Annie and Cal were dealing with some serious emotional issues and I think what mattered is that they both worked through it together or at least assisting each other in the process. Ultimately this was a story of second chances. Catherine approached these subjects with grace and poise. I absolutely loved Dawson! I mean that kid was probably the wisest 9 year old I've ever met and it was almost as if he was the glue that held it all together, either by wise words, pushing people closer with out trying really and diffuse situations like it was never there. This was a great read and a fantastic lift me up!

The Switch

Beth O'Leary

Read May 2026

Well this was cute and fluffy and very wholesome. This follows the story of Eileen who is 79 and going through a rough time and he granddaughter Leena who's having an equally shit time. These two decide to stop lives for 2 months and what unfolds is hilarious yet emotional. Eileen was the start for me in this book - she is such an amazing character, I thoroughly enjoyed her chapters. Leonard did do bad herself and I loved how it ended for her. This was a quick read that left me satisfied, I will definitely look at more from @betholearyauthor .

The Puppet Master: A Psychological Thriller of Control, Lies, and Survival

Abigail Osborne

Read May 2026

This shattered me in so many ways. I was not sure where this was going in the beginning, all I knew was Billy was a very damaged and scared girl and when Adam comes in the picture with his thoughts and trying to make her "pay" I wasn't sure what to think or what to believe. But the when you go to Part 2, I bawled my eyes out!  As a person who has gone through this myself, I know exactly what she went through and that raw hurt came bubbling back up again. @abigailosborneauthor did such a fantastic job describing these emotions! That debilitating fear you feel, the dread of facing anyone you know because you know something is off and that fear of letting your family know thinking it is your fault, telling people and being told your a liar making yourself go deeper into your shell. Honestly this was done so well. I have never ever felt this connected to a book in my life. The atrocities that people do to others came through loud and clear and Abigail portraid this so well, thank you for that. This was a very emotional pshycological thriller that will push every person that reads this. The manipulation and deceit was palpable, I felt so sorry for the characters that were involved. Guys this was brilliant!! Just fabulous writing and a very complex plot, amazing work, well done!

One Shot (Jack Reacher, #9)

Lee Child

Read May 2026

What an amazing read!! If you have been following my reviews - you know that I am such a huge Reacher fan!! I think this was possibly the best one yet. The plot is mainly surrounding a sniper from the old army days who went rogue and killed innocent people ... or did he... Of course Reacher is on the job and this guy is genuinely so clever!! It astounds me everytime! His brain works in some magical ways - things I would have never even thought of. This was not so action heavy a bit more pshycological. Loved it!!! Can't wait for the next one!!

Tennison (Tennison, #1)

Lynda La Plante

Read May 2026

Well this was very interesting indeed. The Tennison series is a prequel to the Prime Suspect series that was published after Prime Suspect. I thought it would be nice to read it in this order in stead of in publication order. And guess what .... I loved it!! We are transported back to London in the 70's when Jane Tennison just started working. This was such a great read showcasing even early on that Jane will be a force to be reckoned with. This was great police procedural and I really enjoyed learning about how things worked back then. The two cases were very interesting- overall a great start to a new series!

The Lost Orphans of Lyon

Helen Parusel

Read May 2026

This was such an amazing tale! I loved this and couldn't put it down! @helenparusel has masterfully painted us such a vivid picture of the areas the circumstances, it is impossible not be drawn in by this writing. Yvette is such an incredible character, I was immediately pulled towards her and I was invested in her story from the word go. This is a tale of the amazing things people did to assist children to get away from the terrible Nazi reign. I am always amazed at what people did to help in the war, and sometimes I think this was more dangerous than actually being on the front line. There are a lot of disturbing and heartbreaking scenes in the book and I applaud Helen for dealing with these with an impressive amount of poise. A fantastic historical fiction with a touch of romance, highly recommend this!!! Thank you to @boldwoodbooks and @netgalley for this Advanced reader copy

Forfeit (The Restoration Project Book 3)

Clive Stephens

Read May 2026

What a final book in the series!! Clive Stephens just send me through a rollercoaster of emotions with this! Just incredible! There was a lot of action in this and my heart nearly stopped a few times! Jason has gone through a tremendous amount of personal and emotional growth. The fight scens and reasons behind them was fascinating. Sally has her own personal growth and she is actually quite clever- I loved her interactions with Knight. That ending just blew me away! I am going to be thinking about this for some time! I loved how everything ties together in the end - I had a few questions about each previous book and stepped away highly satisfied after finishing this one! Fantastic end to the series, this is such a good Sci-fi series fans of this genre need to get this!!

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Kate Atkinson

Read May 2026

I struggled with this one! Not sure if it was because I did the Audiobook or was it something else. There were a lot of characters, I struggled to connect with them and the back and forth in the time lines were confusing. I loved the history though!! It was so well researched and I truly enjoyed the historical side to this.

The Library of Flowers

L.C. Chu

Read May 2026

This was so interesting! The Hau woman are basically witches, they give the perfumes they make magical powers. Lucy has not found her power yet and this is the tale of what she went through. This was both magical and extremely sad at the same time! We all have struggles fitting in with family or even to meet our parents expectations and to read this about her struggles and how she dealt with it was so fascinating. I loved all the perfumes and the notes that made them up, it really added a different layer to the story. This is a story of growth and discovery - of a family coming together in the best possible way! The narration by Cindy Kay was on point and gave the story a nice touch. Highly recommend to historical fiction fans! Thank you to @netgalley and @recordedbooks for this advanced copy.