My August reads:
My top three were The Last Party, The Rising Tide and A Child of the East End.
Wednesday, 31 August 2022
Sunday, 28 August 2022
Return To Cornwall (books 1 to 6) by Laura Briggs
Return to Cornwall: Books 1-6
The first six books in the heartfelt UK series are now available
in one collection!
From a runaway bride to a reality
baking show competition, to rumors of a haunted wood and, of course, a
Christmas of the cosiest kind, there’s never a dull moment for event planner
Julianne in the quirky village she calls home.
This book bundle contains Wedding Vows and Cornish Ribbons, Cornish Sweets and
Wedding Treats, Spring Roses Under Topaz Skies, Cornish Gold at Summer's End,
Walnut Mince Pies at the Frost Fete, Secrets and Sunsets at Azure Bay.
Purchase Link - https://smarturl.it/return1-6
What did I think?
Laura is a new author to me although I have seen her books on Amazon and Goodreads regularly. Not really sure why I haven't picked one up will now.
The blog tour os for the whole series of books - but so far I have only managed to read the first book - A Wedding in Cornwall.
I would class this as more of a short story but the setting is delightful. Enjoyed the idea of an American coming over to work in Cornwall for a job but then finding a love interest. The only negative thing (for me) is that it is written by an American author - some of the language used highlighted this and I did wonder if she has actually been to the region.
A delightful summery read and a great start to the series - which I am going to enjoy working my way through.
Author Bio –
Laura Briggs is the author of
several feel-good romance reads, including the Top 100 Amazon UK seller 'A
Wedding in Cornwall'. She has a fondness for vintage style dresses (especially
ones with polka dots), and reads everything from Jane Austen to modern day
mysteries. When she's not writing, she enjoys spending time with family and
friends, caring for her pets, gardening, and seeing the occasional movie or
play.
Social Media Links –
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1JjeMoI
Twitter: http://bit.ly/1ME9ivJ
It's Monday. What Are You Reading?
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn here at The Book Date.
What I read last week.
What I'm reading now.
What I'm going to read next.
Bookclub - Bonnie Garmus
The Pigeonhole - Ann Cleeves
Readalong - Louise Beech and SR Masters
Audio - Emma Cooper
Saturday, 27 August 2022
Together Under a Snowy Skye by Lisa Hobman
After the heartbreak of a secret unrequited love, Millie
Treadaway has finally found someone to spend her life with.
Harry Rose is handsome, successful and treats her like a
princess. That is until Millie presents her fiancé with a surprise birthday
gift, and their future is suddenly doomed.
Eight months later Millie returns to Glentorrin on the
Isle of Skye for her best friend Jules’ Christmas wedding. Heartbroken, single
and heavily pregnant.
Staying in Lifeboat Cottage with Jules’ brother,
kindhearted Dexter, she’s given up on love and resigned herself to be the best
single Mum ever.
But a shock phone call from Harry leaves her reeling and
doubting herself and her decisions.
Do second chances work? Or is Dexter, right? That she
deserves much more?
Can the festive spirit in Glentorrin, and a little stray
Jack Russell terrier, heal her heart?
Or is she fated to remain a member of the lonely-hearts
club forever?
Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3O28t2B
What did I think?
I am drawn to books set in Scotland (slightly biased as I live there) but a Scottish island setting is a go to for me. Few years since I have been to Skye but it is a beautiful place.
As well a stunning location I found the romance to be captivating and I was hooked from the first few pages.
As well as the location I enjoyed the festive feeling about the story, the friendships and the touches of humour. In places the book put a tear in my eye but in others it put a smile on my face.
This book does form part of a series but if you haven't read the earlier books then it doesn't matter as this book works well as a standalone title.
Author
Bio –
Lisa Hobman has written many brilliantly reviewed women’s fiction titles
– the first of which was shortlisted by the RNA for their debut novel award. In
2012 Lisa relocated her family from Yorkshire to a village in Scotland and this
beautiful backdrop now inspires her uplifting and romantic stories.
Social
Media Links –
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/LisaJHobmanAuthor
Twitter https://twitter.com/LisaJHobmanAuth
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lisahobmanauthor/
Newsletter
Sign Up: https://bit.ly/LisaHobmannews
Bookbub
profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lisa-hobman
Friday, 26 August 2022
The Murder Mystery by Alice Castle
Meet Dulwich Village’s most daring
resident, Beth Haldane. Mother to a sweet little boy, owner of a sulky cat… and
solver of mysteries?
It’s
a crisp spring day in Dulwich Village when Beth arrives at the
intricate iron gates of Wyatt’s School for her new job as the
historian’s assistant. But on a lunchtime stroll admiring the pristine grounds
of this five-hundred-year-old institution, Beth is shocked to stumble
over the body of her new boss Alan Jenkins: spectacles askew, his
mustard-yellow tweed jacket covered in blood.
Gossip
about outsider Beth spreads like wildfire. The parents in the playground are
all whispering: did she bump him off to get her hands on his job?
Desperate
to clear her name and protect her own little boy, Beth turns her research
skills to hunt for the true killer. She soon discovers Alan rubbed his fellow
teachers up the wrong way… could the handsome headmaster be involved?
Why did Beth see a flash of the school receptionist’s bright pink jumper at the
murder scene? And what is the groundskeeper hiding?
When
Beth returns from her sleuthing to find her office in disarray and documents
missing from the archives, it’s clear this prestigious school hides a deadly
secret. But with parents and teachers panicking that the long-protected
reputation of Wyatt’s is under threat, will Beth herself be in the
murderer’s sights before the school bell rings?
Wander
down the cobbled streets of Dulwich, where nothing is as perfect as it seems!
Fans of Agatha Christie, The Thursday Murder Club and Faith
Martin won’t be able to put down this deliciously gripping mystery.
This
book was previously published as Death in Dulwich.
What did I think?
Alice is a new author to me and this is the first book in her London Murder Mystery series.
I do enjoy a cozy mystery - for me they are the perfect piece of escapism reading - and I loved tis one.
Set in London - we meet Beth Haldane - our heroine of the book. I don't know London at all but Dulwich seems a bit upper crust - with everyone trying to outdo each other.
A fantastic easy read - a murder mystery with no nasty bits and a hint of Miss Marple about it all.
I will definitely be reading more of this series soon.
Before turning to crime, Alice Castle was a UK newspaper
journalist for The Daily Express, The Times and The Daily Telegraph. Alice is
an avid reader of crime fiction, her favourite stories are cozy crimes with a
strong sense of place. When she couldn’t find a series about her beloved
south London, she decided to write her own – and single mum amateur sleuth Beth
Haldane was born. Alice also writes twisty psychological thrillers for HQ
Digital under the name A.M. Castle. The Perfect
Widow was a top selling audiobook in 2019 and The
Invitation hit the top 50 on Amazon UK in 2021. Alice lives with
her two children and two cats and, if she isn’t writing or reading a whodunit,
she’ll be watching one on telly.
Website:https://alicecastleauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alice.castle.355
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AliceMCastle
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alice_castle__/
Bookouture Email Sign Up: https://www.bookouture.com/alice-castle
You can read more about the other books in the series below.
The Murder Museum:
Caring mother, school historian, and amateur
sleuth Beth Haldane loves to while away an afternoon in the Museum of Art. But
will she be next in the frame… for murder?
Beth
Haldane is
gazing at enchanting paintings of the rolling English countryside when her
daydream is rudely interrupted: by the discovery of a teenage girl unconscious
on a marble bench.
Shocked,
Beth realises this is no snoozing schoolchild. Someone dastardly has carefully
crossed the girls’ hands across her white dress, as if she’s in a painting
herself. And the girl’s discarded red backpack found in a corner of the museum
is totally empty. Is someone suspicious hiding evidence? And who would want to
harm this innocent soul?
With
poor Sophia in hospital, and the parents of Dulwich Village in
uproar that their little darlings might be next, Beth pesters police for
updates. And with her keen eye for detail and research skills, Beth is
perfectly placed to do some sleuthing of her own… but why are Sophia’s
gaggle of friends so close-lipped? Has some typical teenage drama taken a dark
turn?
But
her questions are ruffling feathers at every turn. With Sophia’s life hanging
by a thread, can Beth find her attacker before it’s too late – and
before the finger points at Beth herself?
A
deliciously gripping cozy mystery that’s perfect for fans of fans of Agatha
Christie, The Thursday Murder Club and Faith Martin.
This
book was previously published as The Girl in the Gallery.
The Murder Question:
When her best friend goes missing, amateur
sleuth Beth Haldane is determined to do some digging of her own… but can she
crack the mystery before it becomes a murder?
Beth
Haldane is worried. First
her dear friend and fellow single mother Jen suddenly gets
married to a new man who seems too perfect to be true, then she moves out of
leafy Dulwich Village – and now seems to have disappeared without a
trace.
Beth
knows Jen would never leave her little daughter to handle
playground predicaments or her sneaky stepmother alone. Heading to Jen’s new
home for answers, Beth’s knocks on the periwinkle-blue front door go
unanswered. Police are convinced the lovebirds are on an extended honeymoon:
but Beth suspects Jen’s new husband is up to no good… why does no-one in
Dulwich know where he came from? Are his looks hiding a dark past?
With
Jen’s unpleasant ex popping up at every turn, and gruff but handsome policeman
DI Harry York insisting Beth should leave things to the professionals, it’s
going to take all her sleuthing skills to track Jen down. But searching Jen’s
overgrown garden for clues, Beth hears a twig snap… and next thing she
knows, she’s woken up in a hospital bed.
Someone
in normally peaceful Dulwich Village will do anything to stop her reaching the
truth. Can Beth get to the bottom of this mystery before she’s the next
to disappear?
A
totally addictive murder mystery that’s perfect for fans of Agatha
Christie, The Thursday Murder Club and Elly Griffiths.
This
book was previously published as Calamity in Camberwell.
The Murder Plot
As
snow covers perfect little Dulwich Village, amateur sleuth Beth Haldane is
certain something’s amiss. There’s a suspicious solicitor, poorly pooches and…
a plot to murder?
Beth
Haldane is
getting ready for a quiet Christmas with her son and their beloved grumpy cat
when fellow single mother Nina begs her for help. Something
fishy is going on with Mr Potter, the solicitor she works for…
business is slow, with the accounts empty. So why does his wife have such an
impressive collection of designer dresses?
Unable
to resist a puzzle, Beth agrees to cover Nina’s job as a receptionist to get a
closer look. But just as she finds a mysterious key hidden away in the office,
Mrs Potter arrives in floods of tears with terrible news for her husband. Their
precious pet, Lancelot the Great Dane, has been found dead in his basket. Mrs
Potter suspects a poisoning…
Beth
is shocked anyone would harm a beloved family pet, but the Potters are
definitely hiding something. When an elderly widow comes to Mr Potter’s office
begging for help with her will, Beth starts to suspect foul play… is Mr Potter
taking advantage of this sweet old lady? And why is he curiously cool, when his
whole family are distraught about Lancelot?
Beth
is determined to find what the mysterious key unlocks, discover Mr Potter’s
secrets and get answers about the local pet-killer before they set their sights
on an owner next time. But is Beth getting closer and closer to her own
sticky end?
A
totally addictive cozy mystery perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, The
Thursday Murder Club and T.E. Kinsey.
This
book was previously published as Homicide in Herne Hill.
The Murder Walk:
A
pleasant stroll in the park, catch ups over coffee and... a body among the
spring bulbs?
Single
mum and school historian Beth Haldane has promised her new
beau, Detective Harry York, that her sleuthing days are behind her. But when
she stumbles over the body of local artist Mark Smeaton while
ambling in the park, it’s clear a dangerous killer is on the loose in peaceful
Dulwich Village. Shocked, Beth can’t resist delving into the mystery.
Snooping
around the nearby cozy cafes, Beth listens carefully to gossip and soon learns
Mark's graffiti-style art was famously controversial. There are plenty who
might want him gone. Was it the suspiciously charming gallery owner? A
disgruntled resident offended by Mark’s art? Or an old school chum with a dark
secret about Mark’s true inspiration?
A
dinner party hosted by a dear friend soon gives Beth the chance to grill all
her suspects over wine and nibbles. But following a lead back to the scene of
the crime, Beth’s search of a hollow tree throws up a mysterious envelope that
stops her in her tracks… will her sleuthing get her in hot water before
she can find the villain, and before there’s another fatal plot in the park?
An
absolutely gripping mystery that fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and The
Thursday Murder Club won’t be able to put down!
This
book was previously published as Revenge on the Rye.
The Murder Club:
A
club of card enthusiasts gather in a magnificent mansion. But someone has been
dealt a deadly hand…
In
peaceful Dulwich Village, a group of elderly residents meet every week for
Bridge Club. Green cloths are laid over square tables, the deck is carefully
dealt, and every beady eye is on the lookout for cheating.
Amateur
sleuth Beth Haldane has never understood the rules, but she’s
drawn into the drama when her mother’s bridge partner Alfie Poole is
found dead. He was last seen heading out for a breath of fresh air after a
particularly tricky hand.
Beth
knows poor Alfie was a sweet old man, but when she learns he was poisoned it’s
clear someone wanted him gone… Suspecting skulduggery, Beth questions each
member of the club. Did the retired doctor slip Alfie a sedative? Is the
ex-English teacher quite as clumsy as she seems? Or was it Alfie’s daughter,
wanting her inheritance early?
Organising
a re-enactment of the day Alfie was killed, and making sure exactly the same
cards are dealt, Beth keeps a close eye on who comes up trumps… but then her
own mother Wendy starts choking on her cup of tea. Thankfully Wendy is rushed
to hospital just in time: but the poisoner is still on the loose. If
Beth plays her cards right, can she catch the killer – or is the deck stacked
against her?
An
utterly gripping murder mystery, perfect for fans of T.E. Kinsey, Agatha
Christie and The Thursday Murder Club.
This
book was previously published as The Body in Belair Park.
The Murder Hour:
A
ticking clock, a grand Edwardian home… and a countdown to murder?
Beth
Haldane stands
on a quiet street outside an ornate front door, glances down at her watch and
taps her foot impatiently. Since her partner Detective Harry York moved into
her little house in Dulwich Village, things are a bit too snug.
Now Beth whiles away the hours waiting for house viewings and searching for the
perfect new home for them and her little boy.
When
a flustered young woman finally arrives and introduces herself as the estate
agent, Beth is looking forward to taking in the exposed red bricks and wooden
floorboards of this charming Edwardian property. But when she peeks into a built-in
wardrobe, a lifeless body is a greeting she wasn’t expecting.
Panicked,
the estate agent soon identifies the man as her boss Richard Pettit.With
police on the way, Beth takes charge of scouting for clues. Why is the house
echoingly empty of furniture except for a carefully folded pile of clothes in
one room? Was the estate agent late because she was bumping off her boss? And
what are the nosy neighbours hiding?
With
rumours spreading all over Dulwich that Beth herself was the intended victim,
when she is sent an anonymous message warning her off the case she knows she’s
on the right track. But can she catch a killer before her own time runs
out?
A
deliciously addictive cozy mystery read that fans of The Thursday
Murder Club, Agatha Christie and T.E. Kinsey will adore!
This book was previously published as The
Slayings in Sydenham.
Wednesday, 24 August 2022
The Hub by Nicola May
ONE
TURKEY FARM, FIVE WILD COLLEAGUES AND A BARN FULL OF MYSTERY
When jilted crime writer August Saunders returns from London to her roots in
rural Wiltshire, she feels lost and lacking in inspiration. Determined to
reignite her writing mojo, she responds to an advert for a shared workspace in
a converted barn.
At the Hub, with its ill-equipped gym, inedible catering and motley array of
fellow users, including a matchmaker more interested in her own conquests and a
TikToker with a dodgy nocturnal sideline, August is confronted with a real-life
mystery to solve.
Why is Max Ronson, the handsome but volatile owner of the Hub, so evasive about
his past? And who or what is he hiding on the premises? She is determined to
find out – but will her curiosity snuff out the spark of romance?
Nicola May mixes mischief with mystery in a fast-paced rural romp which will
make Futtingbrook Farm as beloved a location as Ferry Lane Market or
Cockleberry Bay.
Perfect for fans of Beth O'Leary, Sarah Morgan, Jill Mansell and Cathy Bramley.
Purchase Links
UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hub-uplifting-laugh-out-loud-romance-mystery-ebook/dp/B0B4PYPFWC/
US - https://www.amazon.com/Hub-uplifting-laugh-out-loud-romance-mystery-ebook/dp/B0B4PYPFWC/
Author Bio
–
Nicola May is a rom-com superstar.
She is the author of sixteen romantic comedies, all of which have appeared in
the Kindle bestseller charts. Her books are translated into fourteen languages.
Two of them won awards at the Festival of Romance, and another was named ebook
of the week in The Sun. The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay became the
best-selling Kindle book in the UK, across all genres, in January 2019, and was
Amazon’s third-bestselling novel in that year. Described by Winifred Robinson
of BBC Radio 4’s You and Yours as ‘the invisible bestselling
author’, Nicola campaigned successfully for the introduction of ebook charts in
the publishing trade press.
Social
Media Links –
T: https://twitter.com/nicolamay1
i: https://www.instagram.com/author_nicola/
Monday, 22 August 2022
The Key to the Last House Before the Sea by Liz Eeles
Tears trickling down her
cheeks, she recognises her grandmother’s writing scrawled across the manila
envelope. Inside is an engraved key that sits heavy in her hand. Will the
tumbledown cottage be the start of a new life – or will it tear her life apart?
With her back to the sparkling sea, single mum Nessa stands in the doorway of the
stone cottage her grandmother left behind. If she can just fix up the crumbling
walls and make the empty hearth cosy again, it will be the perfect home for her
little daughter Lily –
and their only option if they want to stay in the village of Heaven’s Cove. But
a rap on the door soon shatters her plans…
Although Gabriel Gantwich has
a smile on his handsome face, the papers he’s clutching say his father’s
company owns the house. They plan to knock it down, destroying Nessa’s last
link to her family history – and Lily’s last hope for a home in Heaven’s Cove.
Reeling, Nessa is furious that an outsider could take away her child’s future.
She has just thirty days to renovate the cottage – and prove it’s hers. As she
and Gabriel clash over every detail, Nessa barely notices that even though they
argue, their talks are fuelled by the same passion. And beneath his tough
exterior, Gabriel appreciates the beauty of the sunset bathing the clifftop
cottage in soft pink light as much as she does…
But one stormy night, Nessa gets a desperate phone call about Lily. Forced to
choose between her family’s past and her daughter’s future, will she end up losing everything? Or
will Gabriel finally realise what truly matters, and help Nessa make this
beautiful place a home?
An absolutely stunning, heartbreaking and
uplifting read that will sweep you away to the wild Devon coast. Perfect for
anyone who loves Trisha Ashley, Debbie Macomber and Jean Grainger.
This book can be enjoyed as a standalone.
What did I think?
Author Bio:
Liz began her writing career as a journalist for newspapers and
magazines before moving into the health sector as a communications manager and
press officer. The low point of her career was abandoning an interview with
Cliff Richard after two questions because she was about to faint – her excuse
is that she was newly pregnant at the time.
Liz is
from Gloucestershire but now lives by the sea in West Sussex with her husband
and grown-up daughter. She spends a lot of time meaning to meditate, avoiding
exercise, and missing her son who lives in London.
https://www.facebook.com/lizeelesauthor/
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https://twitter.com/lizeelesauthor
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Buy Link:
Amazon: https://geni.us/B0B4F41MJ1social
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