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 Journey  

Another radio silence from me - this time I have been down in Edinburgh visiting my youngest son. The city was so busy as both The Fringe and The Tattoo were on. There is so much to see and do in the city that I have done virtually no reading.

What I read last week.

I didn't finish anything!

What I'm reading now.

What I'm going to read next.

Library - Abir Mukherjee

Bookclub - Penelope Lively

Kindle - Nic Hamilton

Happy Days Ahead in the Cornish Village by Sarah Hope

 

Happy Days Ahead in the Cornish Village

BRAND NEW instalment in the warm-hearted romance series from Sarah Hope, for dog lovers everywhere!

 

Life begins outside your comfort zone…

Book-keeper Megan has always lived life by a set of very rigid rules, but with impending divorce papers on the horizon, she throws herself into a new challenge.

She finds solace and purpose in her volunteer work at a dogs’ home but with finances tight, and soon-to-be ex-husband Lyle controlling her purse strings, she might have to trade the work for something more permanent.

But spending her time in the fresh countryside air, Megan discovers a glimmer of hope for a new beginning, finding strength, love, and the promise of a brighter tomorrow – and maybe, even possibly, a new romance.

A cosy and heartwarming romance set in the beautiful Cornish countryside, perfect for fans of Sarah Bennett, Jo Bartlett and Philippa Ashley

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/happydayssocial

What did I think?

This is the 4th book in the Cornish Village series.

I love the cover - I would love to be walking along that path towards the sea.

Megan is newly single and looking for a new direction in her life. She decides to spend some time volunteering at the dog's home. I can sort of relate to Megan as I too am newly single - but I am a volunteer with my local Cats Protection branch. Lots of this story really resonated with me.

I have to say I was Camp Megan right from the start and I was really rooting for her as she navigates her new life.

I found this book a charming and I am already hoping there will be another book in the series. 

Author Bio –

Sarah Hope is the author of many successful romance novels, including the bestselling Cornish Bakery series. Sarah lives in Central England with her two children and an array of pets and enjoys escaping to the seaside at any opportunity.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HappinessHopeDreams

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahHope35 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah_hope_writes/

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/SarahHopeNews

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sarah-hope

 

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 Journey  

It has been a while. I've was away for almost 3 weeks visiting family - just a mere 500 mile solo drive each way. On the plus side that meant almost an entire audio book completed each way.

Unfortunately Covid reared it's ugly head and family members were struck down (I think I had it but only very mildly) So plans were slightly curtailed. But the weather was good and many hours were spent sitting out in the sunshine reading.

What I read whilst I was away.

    What I'm reading now.

What I'm going to read next. 

Audio/Libby - Hilary Boyd and Erica James

Bookclub - Belinda Bauer and Penelope Lively

Library - Christian Lewis, Rebecca Raisin, Abir Mukherjee

Kindle - Nicolas Hamilton

Paperback - Barbara Kingsolver

The Wicked Lady by Elena Collins

 

The Wicked Lady

'Incredibly atmospheric, haunting and poignant.' Nicola Cornick

1648 - Hertfordshire

Thirteen-year-old Katherine Ferrers is in despair at being betrothed to arch-Royalist Thomas Fanshawe whose family are hellbent on plundering her family’s fortune to champion the exiled Charles. As her unhappy marriage stretches before her, her only comfort is her beloved childhood home The Cell. But as the years pass and Kate grows restless, a new passion, a new love and a dangerous calling threaten to upend everything she’s ever known.

Present Day - Hertfordshire

Charlie Wolfe jumps at the chance to help his uncle renovate a tumbledown cottage overlooking Nomansland Common. Number One Constable’s Cottages was once the home of the man charged with ridding the common of the highwaymen who terrorised travellers. But it’s the story of The Wicked Lady, the notorious female highway robber, that captures Charlie’s imagination, and some long winters’ nights he’s sure he can the hoofbeats of her horse echoing across time.

What drove this mystery woman to risk everything for a life of crime, and why is she still restless, wandering the common in grief? It seems only Charlie can finally uncover the secret Katherine Ferrers has kept for hundreds of years; a secret of a terrible betrayal and a tragic love that was never meant to end this way…

USA Today bestselling author Judy Leigh writing as Elena Collins, brings you this spellbinding and heartbreaking timeslip novel, uncovering the intriguing story of another brave woman that history forgot. Perfect for fans of Barbara Erskine, Nicola Cornick, Diana Gabaldon and Louise Douglas.

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/thewickedladysocial

What did I think?

Love that cover. It was giving me Dick Turpin vibes so I was delighted to see that highwaymen were featured. I'm easily pleased.

Without giving too much away there was lots to like about this story. I do love a dual timeline so this box was ticked. Historical isn't really my bag but the Katherine Ferrers story is I believe based on a true story and that added an extra element to these parts of the story. The author has written some fabulous characters and I really got caught up with the story.

An haunting and atmospheric read and highly recommended.

Author Bio –

Elena Collins is the pseudonym for Judy Leigh. Judy Leigh is the bestselling author of Five French Hens , A Grand Old Time and The Age of Misadventure and the doyenne of the ‘it’s never too late’ genre of women’s fiction. She has lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently resides in Somerset.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: @judyleighuk

Twitter: @JudyLeighWriter

Instagram: @judyrleigh

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/ElenaCollinsnewsletter

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elena-collins

 

Cutting it Neat for the Wedding by Margaret Amatt

 

Cutting it Neat for the Wedding

Is the best man also Mr Wright?

Perpetually single Hayley McBride – hairdresser and hopeless romantic – is delighted when her brother asks her to help plan his wedding. Until that is, she’s forced to work with her brother’s best friend, Oliver Wright - a cold and aloof divorce lawyer and a man who's always hated her.

Oliver has seen enough broken relationships to know love doesn’t last. Being his friend’s best man is just a formality. What is there to do other than ensure his friend’s younger sister, Hayley, doesn’t waste too much money on a one-day event?

But Hayley has a knack for making people smile, and Oliver has struggled for years to resist her. As they work together, he starts to wonder if he’s been living in denial.

Hayley keeps chipping away at his walls, and uncovering a different side to him, but can she risk her heart on such a committed cynic?

They must decide whether to take a chance on love or stick to being nothing more than Bridesmaid McBride and Mr Wright the best man.

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/cuttingitneat

What did I think?

I love returning to Glenbriar - living so close to the Highlands it feels like it is on my doorstep.

This is the 9th book in the series and one that I have been looking forward to reading.

I cannot remember where or in which book we met Hayley - but this book centres on her story. Single but a hopeless Hayley dreams of being a bride. Oliver is the complete opposite - being a divorce lawyer he has seen the fall out when relationships go wrong. They say opposites attract.....

Margaret has done it again with this wonderful feel good romance.

I loved the characters, loved the humour and of course I love a happy ever ending.

Author Bio –

Margaret is a bestselling Scottish author and chocolate lover who has been writing stories for over twenty years (possibly more if you count her primary school efforts). Her early works will never see the light of day and are locked in dusty vaults on some old floppy disks. But after all those years of practise, Margaret released her first novel in 2021. It was the first of a ten-book series set on the gorgeous Scottish Isle of Mull.

Margaret is also the author of the acclaimed Glenbriar Series, based in the fictional Scottish town of Glenbriar. This is an on-going series with more books coming in 2024 and 2025.

The stories are unashamedly romantic but with lots of drama and an eclectic mix of characters. Each

book can be read as a standalone but followers of the series will enjoy catching up with the characters.

Social Media Links –

https://www.margaretamatt.com/subscribe

https://www.facebook.com/MargaretAmattAuthor

https://www.instagram.com/margaret_amatt_author

https://twitter.com/AmattAuthor

Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel by Rebecca Raisin

 I am super excited to share the cover for the new book by Rebecca Raisin. If you haven't read any of her books before - then why not?

I've never been to Paris and not likely to be going in the foreseeable future so looking forward to being transported to the city of love in this book.

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 option: 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.

 

A totally gorgeous, escapist romantic comedy, with an unforgettable mystery! A perfect festive read for fans of Emily Henry and Sarah Morgan to curl up with this winter.