Rea Book Reviews

Somewhere Only We Know by Cathy Bramley

2026-04-19T07:00:00.001+01:00

When Magnolia Jones finds her daughter's travel journal, she can think of no better way to honour her life than setting off on the gap year trip that twenty-three-year-old Brontë had dreamed of taking.

It was meant to be Brontë's adventure, but perhaps following her daughter's footsteps around the world is exactly what Magnolia needs to piece her broken heart back together and begin to heal.

As her travels take her further away from home, memories of a long-ago summer come flooding back. Magnolia barely recognises that girl she used to be - the dreams she had, the freedom ahead, the midnight kisses on the beach with curly-haired, brown eyed Jackson.

Maybe, just maybe, in this magical place that is somewhere only they know, Magnolia is about to discover that her journey isn't over - it's just about to begin...

Well quite simply put this in my opinion is Cathy Bramley's best book to date. Do not be fooled by the cover your not going to get some fluffy light hearted forgettable romance, this one is an emotive read that follows Maggie who after the tragic death of her daughter and navigating both the grieving process as well and a void that has been left decides that she is going to embark on her daughter gap year travel plans in her daughters place.

We journey along with Maggie as she visits a number of exotic places as she takes on different challenges and sees different sites but more than that we watch as she goes on a journey of healing and self discovery.

I was really touched by this book and it was clear to see that the author has not only done extensive research for this book but has also literally poured her heart and soul into this book and it can be felt in every chapter. Although for some this may not be a tear jerker if you are lucky enough to not relate to the subject matter in any way, you will still find it emotionally charged.

I really did't want this book to end or to leave Maggie behind because she really was a courageous and remarkable woman but what I will say is the ending was a wholesome one that left me with a hopeful smile on my face.

Love in Provence by Jo Thomas

2026-04-11T08:00:00.005+01:00

Escape to the beautiful lavender fields of Provence this summer

Del moved to the south of France three years ago and hasn’t looked back. She’s found new friends, new purpose, and new love with gorgeous Fabien.

But just as harvest on her little lavender farm is due to begin, Del gets some shocking news. With no time to dwell as she welcomes a new crew of lavender pickers, she unexpectedly waves goodbye to Fabien for the summer.

Usually cooking – the thing she loves best – would help soothe her troubles, but Del doesn’t remember how . . . And then chef Zacharie comes to town, dropping another bombshell!

Over one summer in Provence that’s full of surprises, friends old and new rally round. Can they complete the harvest and pull the community back together? And if Fabien returns, will Del finally get her happy-ever-after?

This book has been waiting for me on my kindle for far too long. An author who I love but I know I soft DNF it at the time but couldn't remember why. I decided to try again today and I am so glad I did because I read it in one comforting sitting and loved being reunited with Del, Fabien, Stephanie as well as so many other characters. As well as old favourites we meet a whole group of new characters who arrive to help with the Lavender harvest and they all have their own reasons for escaping their day to day lives to take some time out and lend a hand at Le Petit de la Mer.

This book many are going to relate to a character along the way as so many different life challenges are being explored when we reach a point in our lives where we suddenly stop and re-evaluate our lives, what we are doing, where we are and who we are with and think is it really what I want and it is never to late to change if your really unhappy but equally sometimes just stopping makes you appreciate what it is in life you love and maybe might be neglecting.

This is certainly a foodie lovers dream of a book because community coking features heavily in this book and my tummy was rumbling the whole way through. There is a real community spirit flowing through the pages again in this book which is something I adore in a book as it seems to be something we are losing in our society,

I do remember now why I soft Dnf this book last time as I had the same wobble when first starting this today and that was the French language that is scattered throughout the start of the book, I am ashamed to say I don't speak French so it stopped me getting into the flow of the book at first but after the first few chapters there wasn't anywhere near as much so I found my enjoyment and intrigue in the storyline growing.

I would definitely recommend this book for foodie lovers who like an idyllic setting and a comforting feel of community spirit thrown in for good measure.

Available to purchase here

Once and Again by Rebecca Serle

2026-04-06T07:00:00.001+01:00

The women of the Novak family were each born with a gift: they can, just once, turn back time.

Lauren has known since she was fifteen that her mother Marcella saved Lauren’s father from a deadly car accident. Dave is alive and happy, and out on the Malibu waves. But ever since, Marcella, her power spent, has lived in fear of what she won’t be able to reverse. Her own mother, Sylvia, is her polar opposite: a free-spirited iconoclast with a glamorous past she only hints at. Lauren has spent her life between these two role models—and waiting for her own catastrophe to strike.

Then one summer, Lauren’s husband takes a job in New York and she moves back to Broad Beach Road, back into her childhood home on the shores of Malibu. Lauren looks forward to surfing with her dad again and perhaps repairing an unspoken fracture in her relationship with her mother. What she doesn’t expect is for the boy next to door to return home as well: Stone, Lauren’s first love, who broke her heart nearly a decade before.

As Lauren falls into familiar patterns, with her family and, more dangerously, Stone, she finds herself thinking about all the choices, large and small, that have brought her to this moment. And wondering, finally, if one of them should be undone.

I really enjoyed In Five Years so I was eager to read Rebecca Serle's new release Once and Again.

I loved the premise of this book as it really gets you thinking if you had a ticket to be able to have just one do over again in your life when do you think you would use it, or would you always be keeping it there as security blanket.

The story-line does cover some emotive topics and yet I found this book unfortunately didn't have any emotional effect on me and that I believe is because I couldn't connect with any of the female characters in this book they were quite cold unlikable characters so much so that I longed for the presence of Lauren's dad Dave to bring some likeability and lightness to the story.

Although this one didn't hit the mark for me I would still pick up another by this author as I love the storylines she creates.

On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn

2026-03-29T07:42:00.001+01:00

Welcome to Bloodwing Academy.

Expect magic. Expect competition. Expect blood.

I didn't sign up for this. A half-fae in a school of highblood vampires? That's a recipe for suffering.

I'm Medra Pendragon, last of the dragon riders--or so they tell me. Funny thing is, there are no dragons left. Not a single one. But somehow, that hasn't stopped the vampires from deciding I'm worth capturing. Now I'm stuck at Bloodwing Academy, where the highbloods run everything, and blightborn like me? We're just blood in their veins, pawns in their games.

But that's not even the worst part. Enter Blake Drakharrow: cold, arrogant, and way too gorgeous for his own good. He's been tormenting me since the moment we met, and now, thanks to some ancient ritual, we're betrothed. He acts like he owns me, but I'm not going down without a fight.

Bloodwing isn't just a school--it's a battlefield. Highbloods fight for power, and if you're weak, you're dead.

Between deadly competitions, lies that could get me executed, and a dragon-shaped secret looming over my head, all I have to do is survive. Easy, right? Except I'm starting to think the real danger isn't the academy--it's what I'm becoming in this twisted game of power.

And Blake? He might just be the one who pushes me over the edge.

They think they can control me. They think they can use me. But they have no idea what they've awakened.

Wow, well I haven't been so engrossed in a fantasy book since reading Fourth Wing but I think I would even go as far as to say this book which is book 1 in the Bloodwing Acadamey series actually beats Fourth Wing for me!

I am surprised how much I enjoyed this because foolishly I actually didn't read the blurb before diving into this one and I have never considered myself a fan of Vampire novels ( other than Twilight but come on who didn't love Twilight!) I was expecting fire breathing Dragons to be plentiful but the book is bursting with vampires but I loved it.

Although this is book 1 it doesn't feel like one of those first books that are just teasing you in ( yes hello ACOTAR I am talking to you) This book is action packed and dark with challenges and saucy spice!

Our main character is Medra but she isn't a Vampire she is in fact a Dragon rider but without a dragon! When circumstances have her wound up at Bloodwing school and promised to none other than the cold blooded gorgeous Blake she faces danger at every turn but she is determined to survive and get herself out of this situation.

Like so many other schools we have visited Bloodwing feels exciting, enchanting and dangerous, we see the divide between the Highbloods and the Blightborn and like Medra we can't understand why the Blightborn are so blinded to the way they are treated and looked upon by the Highbloods.

Medra has made friends and enemies already in book one and she has certainly faced her fair share of trials and I was routing for her the wholeway through because she really is a bad ass!

Blake is certainly going to be one that will find a weakness in me as well as Medra I am sure but after this explosive ending of this book I am desperate to jump straight in to book 2 and see what on earth is going to happen next now that they have opened a whole can of worms!

Available to purchase here

The Path to the Sea by Liz Fenwick

2026-03-15T07:25:00.003+00:00

Boskenna, the beautiful, imposing house standing on the Cornish cliffs, means something different to each of the Trewin women.

For Joan, as a glamorous young wife in the 1960s, it was a paradise where she and her husband could entertain and escape a world where no one was quite what they seemed – a world that would ultimately cost their marriage and end in tragedy.

Diana, her daughter, still dreams of her childhood there – the endless blue skies and wide lawns, book-filled rooms and parties, the sound of the sea at the end of the coastal path – even though the family she adored was shattered there.

And for the youngest, broken-hearted Lottie, heading home in the August traffic, returning to Boskenna is a welcome escape from a life gone wrong in London, but will mean facing a past she’d hoped to forget.

As the three women gather in Boskenna for a final time, the secrets hidden within the beautiful old house will be revealed in a summer that will leave them changed for ever.

I have had this book sat on my shelf for nearly 6 years which is far too long so what better time to read this Cornish set novel than on my stay-cation to Newquay.

This novel is told by three generations of women and the chapters alternate between not only their POV but also back and forth in time to 1962 which worked perfectly for this book because we get to know each of the characters really well and see why their relationships with each other are so cold and difficult. Diana who was the middle generation I took an instant dislike too but by hearing the backstory through these pages by the end of the book I had done a complete 180 and could really see why she is so closed and prickly after what she has experienced in her life.

The storyline is full of love, loss, betrayal and the damage of hidden secrets which gave an air of mystery that kept me captivated the whole way through.

Liz Fenwick is such an accomplished writer who not only creates the most wonderful believable characters but also has such a beautiful writing style that helps you to really visualise the surrounds in the idyllic settings she sets her novels in.

This has actually turned out to be my favourite of this authors books and to think it has been waiting on my shelf for so long makes me think what other gems I still have waiting for me!

Available to purchase here

Before You Say Goodbye by Sarah Gate

2026-03-07T06:02:00.001+00:00

Autumn has found the love of her life.

Now she has to say goodbye, instead of hello to their forever.

When lonely author Autumn meets shy musician Bowie in New York, they fall head over heels and straight into bed.

Autumn has found her forever.

But not everyone gets their happily ever after. Bowie has just six months left to live.

And just like that, Autumn's entire life has been rewritten.

Embraced by his loving, unconventional family, Autumn returns with Bowie to England to live out the rest of his life by his side. But over the course of that summer, the decisions Autumn makes will help her move on, even after love and loss.

Decisions, it emerges, that were orchestrated by Bowie before they said goodbye.

Safe to say this book had me in a chokehold at times and I would definitely say check your trigger warnings before reading this book as it does cover grief, sexual abuse, family dynamics, suicidal episodes. So If your after a fluffy lighthearted romance you have come to the wrong place with this one as this book is emotionally charged and will shatter your heart in more ways than one.

This book surprised me because in the beginning when we first meet Autumn and Bluebell ( Bowie's sister ) I didn't instantly warm to them and I found each of them rather edgy and cold but the reasoning for this we do find out later in the book but I am so relieved I continued reading because from that cold start became a close knit support group around Bowie as we watched everyone struggle with his impending parting from this world and this really was heartbreaking to read. It really shines light on having to weigh up respecting someones wishes and doing what you want and what feels right in the moment, is there ever a right answer?

There was no sugarcoating around Bowie's health and there were disagreements and inexcusable mistakes made too which although I could see coming, still had me absolutely gobsmacked and intrigued to see how things would play out later in the story.

This is a family I really didn't want to leave as sharing these tender moments with them made me feel like I was enveloped in by them so I am relieved to see there is another book to read after this one where I can be reunited again and see how the family are doing.

Available to buy here

Want to Know a Secret by Freida McFadden

2026-03-03T06:33:00.002+00:00

Everyone has secrets.

YouTube baking sensation April Masterson knows the secret to the perfect gooey brownies. Or how to make key lime squares that will melt in your mouth. But if you keep watching her offline, you may find out some other secrets about April. Secrets she’d rather you didn’t know.

Like where did her son go when he snuck out of the house? What was she doing with the local soccer coach behind fogged windows?

And what’s buried in her backyard?

Everyone has secrets. Some are worse than others.

April’s secrets are enough to destroy her.

I’ll make sure of that.

I have had a mixed experience with Freida McFadden books, The Housemaid had me gripped but the others I have read haven't quite hit the mark that is until I sat and read Want to Know a Secret where once again I was swept along with a storyline that had me suspecting one character one minute then firmly accusing another one the next only to have me weaved into a web of twists and turns not knowing who to trust.

In the first half of this book which is told by April POV we get to know April who I began to see a little as a people pleaser, using her amazing cooking skills to form a sense of connection and security with people. Through April we meet her new neighbour Maria who she helps to introduce into the neighbourhood and the school mums including April's best friend Julie. In the beginning it feels just like easy reading cosy neighbourhood community vibes but gradually little things begin to make me suspicious and this is when I started collecting clues and suspicions on the women began to arise.

This book I guarantee will be an unpredictable read for every reader because one revelation literally hits so unexpectedly it was completely random. This is a fast paced thriller as we have come to know and expect from this authors books and is what I love as rather than a slow burn it keeps me on my toes right up until that very last page.

Available to purchase here

The Cafe on the Coast by Christie Barlow

2026-03-03T05:43:00.005+00:00

Can a cake change your life?

Clemmie Rose’s great-great-grandmother’s beloved clementine torte is her ticket to the prestigious Royal Baking Competition. A win could put Puffin Island’s charming Café on the Coast on the map, land Clemmie her very own cookbook deal, and secure her a coveted invitation to a royal garden party.

But when she discovers the competition is being hosted aboard the Royal Yacht by none other than her ex, Oliver Lockwood, the stakes – and the soufflés –suddenly rise, and Clemmie’s bid for the Golden Whisk trophy is at risk of collapsing like an underbaked sponge.

When a decades-old secret is thrown into the mix, she’ll need more than the perfect recipe to keep her dreams from crumbling.

I have read a few of Christie Barlow's books before however I must have been living under a rock because I had already started reading this book before I found out it is actually book 4 in the Puffin Island series!

Not to panic though as I seemed to read The Cafe on the Coast easily enough as a stand-alone I can only assume I would have felt like more of the community having got to know some of the characters already in the previous books.

My absolute weakness when it comes to books are romances set in cafes, bakeries and bookstores so this book being a romance set in cafe was always going to tick a lot of boxes for me but add to that the challenge of a Royal Bake Off and some hidden family secrets and this book really hit the mark.

Puffin Island is a glorious setting giving that instantly welcoming community vibe and our main character Clemmie sure has some supportive friends and family around her. I loved watching this girl next door woman have her Pretty woman moment. The will they wont they romance that burned between Clemmie and Oliver kept me guessing wondering if and how this relationship was ever going to work when both had such strong ideas and goal to achieve.

I really enjoyed this book and I will now crawl out from my rock and go and read the previous books in this series too.

Available to purchase here

The Tainted Khan by Taran Matharu

2026-02-26T07:30:00.001+00:00

Jai dreams of being a dragon rider. He dreams of freedom from the Sabine Empire and a world in which he can lead his people, the Kidara, to freedom. But even though he has his dragon, Winter, she is still growing, just as he’s still growing in his own power. And the road to victory is even more fraught than he had hoped…

Because even when he finds a tribe on the Great Steppe, they are not his people. They are the outcasts, the Tainted, and he finds that he knows little of the political intricacies that take place in these vast grasslands. He is a stranger amongst his own kind, for Jai’s uncle rules, and is loath to cede power to his nephew.

But the legionaries and Gryphon Guard of the Sabine Empire are wreaking havoc against the other tribes of the Great Steppe, and Jai is forced to learn a lifetime’s worth of knowledge in a matter of months. From levelling up his magic, to becoming a true warrior, saving the woman he loves, and strengthening his bond with Winter, Jai is a dragon rider with a massive weight on his young shoulders. And his greatest hope is that the shoulders of Winter will soon be strong enough to help carry him.

The Tainted Khan is the second book in this series which follows on from Dragon Rider and I you definitely need to read these books in order you are fighting a losing battle trying to read this book as a standalone. We are reunited with Jai and he is on a mission to take his place as the high Khan of the Kidara and he will stop at nothing to achieve this.

Compared to the previous book this one is a lot more battle led as Jai works to bring tribes together to build the ultimate force against the Sabine Empire. Taran Matharu certainly excels in his descriptive writing and world building in this book and his relationships between characters are well developed too. I enjoyed the kinship that forms between Jai and Feng particularly. I still stick by what I said in my review of Dragon Rider in that the dragon element I expected to be more central to the storyline but this isn't the case and although Winter appears more in this book I really feel the lack of communication between Jai and Winter was a real loss to this story.

This book is a beast of a book and felt never ending but there was always something going on with Jai on his journey but I did find my attention waivering at points so I did swap to audio and found this was much more engaging and exciting.

The shock revelation really was unexpected, I didn't even have a hint of what was going to be revealed and I was in that much shock when I heard it that I reverted straight back to my kindle to read it with my own eyes!

I did enjoy this book despite its hefty size but it is certainly one you need to set time aside to read.

Swept Away by Beth O'Leary

2026-02-24T08:00:00.005+00:00

Lexi is looking for no-strings-attached fun.

Zeke is looking for love.

Neither of them were looking for a one-night stand to become their one and only lifeline.

But when they wake up after an unforgettable night together, the houseboat they stayed on has been swept out to sea. There's no signal, no steering and no sign of rescue.

And as the waves pick up and supplies run low, Zeke and Lexi realise there's much more on the line than their new relationship.

I couldn't wait to be swept away ( see what I did there!) with this book by Beth O'Leary. I have come to know and love this authors ability to write story lines from both male and female points of view in unusual forced proximity settings and this one is no exception as we join Lexi and Zeke on an extended one night stand that leaves them stranded out at sea on a boat.

As the couple face challenging and dangerous situations while they hope to be rescued they actually start to open up and not only really get to know each other but without the distractions of the real world around them they begin to help each other discover more about themselves too and I loved watching their self discovery and confidence grow.

This is a cheeky book because just as your gently bobbing along towards the latter part of this book there is suddenly a twist that even though I am telling you there is a twist you WILL NOT see it coming! There are no clues it just pops up and bites you on the bum!

Available to purchase here

Fireflies in Winter by Eleanor Shearer

2026-02-17T07:00:00.001+00:00

Nova Scotia, 1796. Cora, an orphan newly arrived from Jamaica, has never felt cold like this. In the depths of winter, everyone in her community huddles together in their homes to keep warm. So when she sees a shadow slipping through the trees, Cora thinks her eyes are deceiving her. Until she creeps out into the moonlight and finds the tracks in the snow.

Agnes is in hiding. On the run from her former life, she has learned what it takes to survive alone in the wilderness. But she can afford no mistakes. When she first spies the young woman in the woods, she is afraid. Yet Cora is fearless, and their paths are destined to cross.

Deep among the cedars, Cora and Agnes find a fragile place of safety. But when Agnes's past closes in, they are confronted with the dangerous price of freedom--and of love....

With evocative prose and immersive storytelling, Fireflies in Winter is a powerful novel about love--love for the wilderness in all its unforgiving beauty, and love between two women who risk everything to be together.

Fireflies in Winter is the first book I have read by Eleanor Shearer and this one was certainly a learning curve for me as I had no prior knowledge of The Maroons who were sent from Jamaica to Nova Scotia, I had to google this to get a general insight into this because the book did't so much educate me on this it prompted more of an intrigue which made me want to gather more insight.

The storyline sure is a story of resilience and survival in a dangerous and unsettled place which was felt through the pages with thanks to the author's descriptive writing style. Our main characters Cora and Agnes really are strong women but they had no choice if they wanted to survive and live a life of freedom. We also meet Thursday who I loved from our first meeting and he was the only character I found myself really drawn to and had trust in too.

This book isn't full of dramatic twists and turns, it is a gentle paced read too but for the story it is trying to tell this works well. I did find it took me quite a while to feel invested in the storyline however I do wonder if this was more so because of my lack of knowledge of the history that this book is cantered around so maybe those who have existing knowledge may find it a different reading experience.

Dear Debbie Freida McFadden

2026-02-16T15:47:00.001+00:00

Sometimes, enough is enough...

Debbie Mullen is losing it. For years, she has compiled all of her best advice into her column, Dear Debbie, where the wives of New England come for sympathy and neighborly advice. Through her work, Debbie has heard from countless women who are ignored, belittled, or even abused by their husbands. And Debbie does her best to guide them in the right direction.

Or at least, she did.

These days, Debbie's life seems to be spiraling out of control. She just lost her job. Something strange is happening with her teenage daughters. And her husband is keeping secrets, according to the tracking app she installed on his phone. Now, Debbie's done being the bigger person. She's done being reasonable and practical. It's time to take her own advice.

And now it's time for payback against all the people in her life who deserve it the most.

One thing I can always guarantee when it comes to a Freida McFadden book is that it will be quick paced and I will be completely blindsided and that was certainly the case when I sat down to read her new release Dear Debbie this morning and finished it in one greedy sitting!

I have never read another authors books whose storyline feels so unbelievably predictable only to be thrown a complete curve ball and a twist that I never see coming which bumps a 3 star read right up to a 4!

Debbie is certainly a bad ass character who will do whatever it takes to defend and protect her family in the most extreme ways, it became apparent quite early on that she is a character not to be messed with. The chapters alternate between Debbie, her husband Cooper and her friend Harley so we get to know these characters too and the brain starts looking for clues already trying to work out who we trust and whose motives we should be suspicious of.

This book is great for anyone who loves an unpredictable thriller that has revenge, long held secrets and deception at the heart of the book.

A Cottage in the Country by Katie Fforde

2026-02-12T06:22:00.001+00:00

She's found her dream home but can she make her dreams a reality?

Hattie finds other people their dream homes for a living.

Surely she, of all people, has the connections and the knowledge to find her own forever home? Instead, she baffles those closest to her by choosing to pack up and move every few months from one housesitting job to the next.

Of course, that's because she knows where she wants to live. It's a beautiful house owned by a lovely old woman who'd simply love for Hattie to have it.

But nothing is ever that simple.

There's Clive who refuses to listen to his great-aunt's wishes about her house. There's Luke, Hattie's oldest friend, who just wants to see her happy. And there's Hattie herself. It might take a difficult client, an awkward teenager and a couple of dogs to help her see what really makes a house a home.

Katie Fforde has delivered another cosy wholesome read and has introduced us to Hattie who truly has a heart of gold. As well as matching people with their dream homes, thanks to her gift she also finds herself playing cupid too but all the way through this book I was just eager for Hattie to find her own love and happy place. Her nephew Xander was a lovely addition to the story and seeing him thrive and grow as a character in his new soundings was really lovely to watch.

The couple of not so nice characters in this book helps the book to have a little more depth and not be too sickly sweet and finding that kindness always overcomes evil is always something I love.

As with many cosy romances the outcome was predictable and yet I still found myself wrapped up in the storyline. I thoroughly enjoyed A Cottage in the Country and would definitely recommend it for those who enjoy a comforting wholesome read.

My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney

2026-02-08T07:57:00.002+00:00

Eden Fox, an artist on the brink of her big break, sets off for a run before her first exhibition. When she returns to the home she recently moved into – Spyglass, an enchanting old house in the pretty seaside village of Hope Falls – nothing is as it should be. Her key doesn’t fit. A woman, eerily similar to her, answers the door. And her husband insists that this stranger is his wife.

One house. One husband. Two women. Someone is lying.

Six months earlier, a reclusive Londoner named Birdy, reeling from a life-changing diagnosis, inherits Spyglass. This unexpected gift from a long-lost grandmother brings her to Hope Falls. But then Birdy stumbles upon a shadowy London clinic that claims to be able to predict a person’s date of death, including her own. Secrets start to unravel and, as the line between truth and lies blurs, Birdy feels compelled to right some old wrongs.

Wow wow wow!

This is my first book by Alice Feeney but I am now desperate to pick up another after finishing My Husband's Wife as she weaved an intricate web of twists and turns that completely blindsided me.

This book had me hooked from the very first chapter when Eden arrives home and everything has changed, my mind started working ten to the dozen trying to come up with a rational solution for how on earth there could be what seems like two Edens and coming up with nothing but then the storyline starts weaving off again and more questions keep arising and I was mind boggled by it all but equally so intrigued to get to the bottom of this twisted turn of events.

The chapters alternate between many characters points of views but this works really well for this book because you see things through their eyes and start building pictures of people and events and soon you are suspicious of everyone.

So much happens and it is a fast paced book with what felt like no safe space to put it down and anytime I did stop I found myself drawn back to it before long with my mind working overtime.

Just when you think its all wrapped up your head is then thrown into another spin!

If you love completely unpredictable gripping reads with a sinister undertone that will put your head in a spin trying to solve the unsolvable then this book won't disappoint. This is my first 5 star of the year.

Healing Hearts on Thistledown Lane by Holly Hepbu

2026-01-18T08:00:00.004+00:00

Maura has everything she ever wanted from life – a quirky cottage in Edinburgh’s picturesque Dean Village, a thriving career as a potter and a contented relationship with her childhood sweetheart, Jamie. Never mind that the cottage is damp, her pots aren’t selling and Jamie prefers a night down the pub with his rugby mates to an evening in with her.

But everyone wishes things were just a tiny bit better, right?

When Maura reunites with Fraser Bell at a Hogmanay party, she’s instantly transported back to her school days. And when he proposes she makes ceramic ghosts to complement his city ghost tour business, she’s tempted. At first, everything goes smoothly but it’s not long before their new partnership causes problems that ripple through every aspect of Maura’s life. The ghosts go viral, so she has more orders than she can fulfil and Jamie is not thrilled that she’s spending all her time in her studio. But when Edinburgh Castle shows an interest in Maura’s work, things begin to spiral out of control.

Can Maura really have it all or will she regret wishing for more?

I have long been a fan of Holly Hepburn's books but always prefer to read them in on greedy sitting rather than the instalment releases and this book was no exception. I was enveloped into the idyllic setting of Edinburgh which the author managed to portray the beautiful surroundings and history of some of the areas. The idea of our main characters being a pottery maker and a ghost tour operator is something quite new to my reading experience and I loved this new take on a storyline. The creativity and timings of pottery making were really explored in this book which I was actually quite intrigued by. We are also taken along on the Ghost walks, so if you like a spooky telling you will enjoy these parts.

Both Maura and Fraser were characters I instantly warmed to, they had such lovable natures and both were true homebodies who love and cherish their hometowns. Ok so the romance may be rather predictable however I had no complaints with this as I was along for the journey and was rooting for these two from start to finish especially when there were some rather unforgivable romance situations that occurred within the storyline.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it is definitely one I would recommend for those who love a cutesy romance with a picturesque setting.

Available to purchase HERE

Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

2026-01-02T08:00:00.001+00:00

For as long as she can remember, Evangeline Fox has believed in happily ever after. Until she learns that the love of her life is about to marry another, and her dreams are shattered.

Desperate to stop the wedding, and heal her wounded heart, Evangeline strikes a deal with the charismatic, but wicked, Prince of Hearts. In exchange for his help, he asks for three kisses, to be given at the time and place of his choosing.

But after Evangeline's first promised kiss, she learns that bargaining with an immortal is a dangerous game - and that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she pledged. He has plans for Evangeline, plans that will either end in the greatest happily ever after, or the most exquisite tragedy . . .

I have been wanting to read this series for so long but they have been waiting on my shelves for me as I was advised to read the Caraval series first. I can see why people advise this because alongside our main character Evangeline in this book we also have a Fate named Jacks who is a character in the Caraval series which is where the Fates are a big part of the storyline so by reading that series first you have some background knowledge on the trickery the fates can play.

But one thing I can say after finishing the first book in this series, Once Upon a Broken Heart is I much preferred this one to the Caraval series of books. I think this is helped because Evangeline has an instantly likeable characteristics so you do have a care and interest in her well being and you don't want to see her wrongfully accused of wrongdoings.

World building is certainly something this author does well in both series of her books she has such a wild imagination and then to have such a talented ability of bringing these creative worlds to life so vividly in the readers mind is remarkable. This is fantasy reading but with so much dark magic woven through what feels like a sweet storyline of a girl who just wants to find love.

This book was fast paced and eventful and I was whisked away in the storyline so much so I read the whole thing in a matter of hours BUT hello! That ending, I honestly thought there had been a misprint or someone had taken the last pages from my book!

So a word of warning do not buy this book without having the next one ready to go because you will instantly want to reach for book 2 in the series the minute you finish.

Available to purchase here

A Neighbours Guide to Murder by Louise Candlish

2025-12-29T07:55:00.003+00:00

Her secrets will be the death of you…

When Pixie moves into Columbia Mansions, divorced Gwen is quick to take the younger woman under her wing. But as Pixie becomes entangled with her charismatic landlord Alec, the lines of friendship begin to blur.

With rumours of illicit goings-on swirling, Gwen soon realises Pixie isn’t the only one with something to hide. How well does she really know the neighbours she considers her friends?

As scandal erupts, old grudges resurface, leading to a crime that will destroy the peace of Columbia Mansions forever.

I have just finished reading A Neighbours Guide to Murder by Louise Candlish, an author whose books I have always thoroughly enjoyed. We meet the residents of Columbia Mansions, Gwen lives next door to Alec and when he takes in a new tenant a young beautiful woman called Pixie, Gwen sparks up a nurturing friendship with her but before long she starts to have suspicions about the goings on behind closed doors and worries about Pixie.

When Pixie confides in Gwen about her situation with Alec there then spirals a tornado of events that soon puts Gwen in an impossible situation.

This storyline starts off as a slow burn and took me a while to slot into but I persevered and I am pleased I did because the pace picked up and I found myself so engrossed in the story and also becoming as mind boggled as our main character Gwen, not knowing who to trust or who was telling the truth. This was certainly an unpredictable read, at times I felt like everything had been solved and had come to light but then the storyline would completely spin and show another side which left me with more questions rather than answers.

There is so much going on at the end of this book too so the author keeps you on your toes right until the very last chapter. My heart really went out to Gwen because you could really see she had such a loving, kind and caring nature but she never seemed to have anyone around her to match her character, it kind of felt like through her whole life she was in the wrong place at the wrong time, with the wrong people.

I was really invested in this storyline and although it may not be my favourite by this author it is still definitely one I would recommend if you're looking for an unpredictable thriller.

Available to purchase here

Snowed in at the Wildest Dreams Bookshop by Gracie Page

2025-12-13T08:00:00.001+00:00

Ivy’s first term at art college hasn’t gone to plan. Lacking in friends and inspiration, she’s looking forward to a quiet, cosy, antisocial winter holiday working at the Wildest Dreams Bookshop.

Except, her sleepy small town is suddenly full of chirpy tourists, including Trip – her most annoyingly sunshine-y (and annoyingly handsome) new customer of all, who’s desperate for Ivy to show him the sights of Fox Bay.

Ivy doesn’t think there’s much of interest in her hometown, but can seeing it through Trip’s eyes give her a fresh perspective? And when they both get roped in to helping save the local school show, might Trip be the unlikely inspiration Ivy needs to get her creative sparks flying again?

This is the second book in the Wildest Dreams Bookshop series and is a perfect YA feel good read with a sprinkling of festivity thrown in. If you haven't read the previous book, not to worry it can easily be read as a stand alone.

I thought the book judging by the title was going to be set back in the bookshop again but although Ivy gets a job there for the season it isn't a heavy feature in the book this time which I was a little disappointed by.

But to make up for it we go on mini tours of the sights around Fox Bay which I loved but what I loved most was the blossoming if a little predictable romance that surrounds Ivy as well as her finally letting her walls down and accepting that people do actually want to be friends with her no matter how much she tries to stay in her loner corner.

This is a great YA book for those who have recently left school and are struggling to settle into the next chapter of their lives as it shows that you are not alone with the challenges you are facing and the uncertainty if you have made the right choice. A relatable and helpful message wrapped up in a sprinkling of romance and festivity.

The Secret Mistletoe Promise by Cressida McLaughlin

2025-12-08T11:21:00.000+00:00

When Imogen leaves her fiancé at the altar and escapes to her grandmother’s cottage by the sea, the only thing she wants to do is disappear.

But in a village curious about their new arrival, Imogen finds hiding out harder than expected, especially with the charming local baker Dexter around to distract her.

As secrets unravel and the festive season draws near, Imogen wonders if she’s been running from the wrong things all along.

Will the runaway bride find her happy ever after under the mistletoe?

My first festive read of 2025 was a no brainer for me as I am a HUGE fan of Cressida McLaughlin and with her new release The Secret Mistletoe Promise set in Mistingham which is the same cosy seaside town her previous book was set in I was ready to be re-united with the community I fell in love with including the troublesome Jumper wearing goat Felix!

This time we arrive in the town alongside a new character Imogen who is a runaway bride who has come to hide out with her grandmother but there this community welcomed her with open arms and rather than hiding away we watch as Imogen begins to flourish as she helps the locals with goat hunting, decoration making as well as taking part in Christmas festivities. There is a sparkling gentle romance fizzing through the pages and new friendships made making this the perfect foundation for a winter romance which I adored. Dexter was a character who I loved from the previous book and I was so pleased that Cressida featured him in this book so heavily as I was hoping for a happy ever after for him.

If you haven't read The Secret Christmas Bookshop yet you can read this one as a stand alone however that was a wonderful read where we really start to get to know the characters and where the antics of Felix the naughty goat will have you chuckling away so treat yourself to both this Christmas.

Available to purchase here

One August Night by Victoria Hislop

2025-10-19T08:00:00.002+01:00

25th August 1957. The island of Spinalonga closes its leper colony. And a moment of violence has devastating consequences.

When time stops dead for Maria Petrakis and her sister, Anna, two families splinter apart and, for the people of Plaka, the closure of Spinalonga is forever coloured with tragedy.

In the aftermath, the question of how to resume life looms large. Stigma and scandal need to be confronted and somehow, for those impacted, a future built from the ruins of the past.

Many years ago I remember reading The Island by Victoria Hislop and it well and truly left its mark on me as it was a remarkable story that opened my eyes and gave me an insight into the history of Spinalonga and how leprosy suffers were treated.

Fast forward and I am now on holiday in Crete and thought what a better time to reconnect with the characters we met in The Island in the sequel One August Night.

A cure has now been found and the surviving patients are ready to leave the island but the thought of Maria’s return is unsettling for both Anna and Marteau who have kept a secret romance all this time.

But the day of Maria’s turn sparked a dramatic change for all our characters.

The storyline bounces between our characters as Maria spends time building her life in Crete with her new family but also but fulfilling what she feels is her duty visiting the prison whilst Manolis escapes to Athens to find a new life and come to terms with his loss.

This author has such a wonderful writing style that brings our characters to life but also creates such awareness and intrigue into the places she writes about and issues that are faced and she has done such a great job of piquing my interest that after finishing this book I have now booked on a trip tomorrow to visit Spinalonga.

I was once again enraptured by this storyline, maybe not so much as The Island but none the less it held my attention the whole way through and is certainly one I would recommend.

Available to purchase Here

A Scar in The Bone by Sophie Jordan

2025-10-18T08:00:00.064+01:00

It’s been a year since Tamsyn transformed from the enemy in Fell’s bed to the wife he sacrificed himself to save. From an ordinary girl to Penterra’s best hope to keep magic from disappearing forever.

With Fell torn from her side in the dangerous swirling mists of the Crags, Tamsyn is alone among the dragon pride. An outsider learning to survive in her new home, she trains until her muscles burn and her blood spills. And slowly, a warrior emerges.

But is Fell truly beyond Tamsyn’s reach? Their bond pulls at her, as does the fierce drive to protect both humans and dragon kind from a relentless enemy determined to destroy her – and all magic.

I was a big fan of A Fire in the Sky so I was looking forward to reconnecting with Tamsyn and in this follow on A Scar in the Bone we watch as Tamsyn is adapting to life living with her kind in the Crags but she still has a strong bond with Fell despite being told his brother telling her he has died. The former whipping girl is growing in strength and self worth and as the storyline progresses we can see that after being controlled her whole life she craves a life of freedom and a life where she can live peacefully embracing both her human and dragon form.

I enjoyed this book although I did find it lacked the adventure and excitement of the first book and I feel that Fell's absence from this book was a big contributor to this. At times the pace felt slow and like there wasn't much going on but then on the flip side the last 20% felt like it was rushed.

I loved the introduction of the new characters as they were from the Dragon pride and I wanted more dragon content in the Fire in The Sky and this was definitely stepped up in this book which I was pleased about. This is definitely not a book to read as a standalone so be sure to immerse yourself in the storyline of A Fire in the Sky before picking this one up.

Bea's Book Wagon by Julie Haworth

2025-10-13T09:46:00.001+01:00

After impulsively jacking in her dead-end temp job and investing her life savings in a ramshackle old horsebox, Bea sets about turning her dream of running a bookshop into a reality, and opens Bea’s Book Wagon. But it’s not all smooth sailing, and as Bea struggles with the challenges of running her own small business, she can only hope that her love of literature and the power of reading can help transform the lives of her friends, her community and herself in the process.

I have been really looking forward to the release of Bea’s Book Wagon because I love books about fictional entrepreneurs especially when it involves bookshops!

This book really didn’t disappoint it was such a wholesome read that I didn’t want to put down, I was routing for Bea to make a success of her mobile book business and I was also rather envious of her courage to take such a big risk and put everything she has into this business.

The support she receives not just from family and friends but also from the community who she is managing to bring together with thanks to a mutual love of books which was so comforting. With the book being set around Rye it all felt very easy to visualise with the thanks to the authors descriptive writing but also this was helped with this being a location not too far from where I live so this gave the book an added sense of excitement and familiarity.

Although the romance side of this book had a predictable outcome I still loved watching every moment unfold, I could smell a bad egg straight away when meeting one of the love interests and also could see early on that there were a couple whole were clearly meant to be so the romantic in me was cheering from the sideline!

This is one of my favourite reads of this year full of ambition, love, friendship and a love of books. If your looking for a wholesome feel good read then this book will tick all the boxes.

Available to buy here

Uncharmed by Lucy Jane Wood

2025-09-18T08:30:00.002+01:00

It's time to break the spell of perfection . . .

Andromeda Wildwood is practically perfect in every witch way. Her life is a haze of pink, magic and impossibly high standards. The proud owner of Celestial Bakehouse, a bustling London bakery, Annie devotes her powers to pleasing others, and while perfection exacts a magical toll, it’s a price she is more than willing to pay.

However, when Annie is tasked by her coven with mentoring a troubled teenage witch, her charmed existence is thrown into chaos. She couldn’t be more different from fiery, stubborn Maeve. Or from Hal, the gruff but handsome owner of their temporary lodgings, who is not best pleased to find the coven has offered up his woodland cottage to two headstrong witches.

As the unlikely trio slowly bond, outside forces begin to take an interest in Maeve’s extraordinary powers. Will Annie risk everything to protect the true magic she’s finally found?

After thoroughly enjoying the magical escapism that was Rewitched last year I didn't waste a moment in picking up Lucy Jane Woods new release Uncharmed and sorry but how can any one walk past this absolutely stunning cutesy cover!

Don't fear if you haven't read Rewitched because this is a stand alone although previous characters do make an appearance. But our practically perfect main character Annie is fresh and new and pulls us into a slice of heaven from the first chapter. The author has such deliciously good descriptive writing which needs to come with a warning because it had me drooling over all the sweet treat in the first chapter and I found myself praying for my diet and willpower!

This book is magical but with such a warm cosy charm to it which I am finding is my happy place when it comes to fantasy books because there is no crazy challenging world building for my ADHD brain to get my head around I am just enveloped in a welcoming hug of sorcery.

Annie soon shows us and learns for herself that perfection isn't all it is cracked up to be and that being true to yourself will bring the best form of happiness and attract the right people to be around you, likeling you for you and not who you are trying to be.

I loved Annie she was our ray of sugary hope and on the flip side we also meet our little storm cloud Maeve and watching these two come together to help each other find their place in the world and show their true colours was exciting and joyous to watch.

I think I may have actually enjoyed this one a tad more than Rewitched which is a rare thing I find in second books. If you are looking to kick of your cosy sorcery reading this autumn then I have just found the perfect one for you.

Available to buy here

All Wrapped Up by Heidi Swain

2025-09-13T07:47:00.000+01:00

In Wynbridge, the scent of autumn is on the breeze and love is in the air…

Clemmie Bennett has been renovating beautiful Rowan Cottage on the outskirts of the small town of Wynbridge, for eighteen months following a very public heartbreak back in her childhood hometown. The popular Instagram influencer, lost her husband, sold their home, and has been cosied up the Fens and living a very private life, but now she feels it’s time for a change.

A chance encounter with co-owner of The Cherry Tree Café, the bubbly Lizzie Dixon, pulls her into organizing Wynbridge’s first-ever Autumn Festival, and her once quiet life is soon a distant memory. With the whole town rallying behind the event, she discovers a new sense of purpose.

And when local vet Ash falls hard for Clemmie, she begins to wonder if she’s ready to move even further on from her past and fall in love again…

The excitement is real, we are off for another trip to the idyllic village of Wynbridge in this latest release by Heidi Swain and as ever this book didn't disappoint.

We are introduced to a new character who out of all of Heidi's previous characters I felt like I could really relate to, Clemmie us instantly loveable and we can see that she is healing in her own way from the loss of her husband, throwing herself into her home renovation and shutting herself off from the world. If anyone is going to heal and start living again after loss then being in the cosy community driven village of Wynbridge is the perfect place to be.

We reunite with so many characters in this book which I loved but if you are late to joining the love of Heidi Swains novels then do not fear you can still read this as a standalone although I a word of warning you will rushing to go pick up The Cherry Tree Cafe straight after!

The Cherry Tree Cafe has long been my favourite read by this author so I loved spending so much time back at the cafe with Lizzie and Jemma. The excitement can be felt through the pages as we watch the Autumnal Festivities take off.

If you love Autumn then this book is screaming out for you to pick it up because it is oozing Autumnal festivity from start to finish I would even go as far as to say its the most Autumnal themed book I have ever read. Wrapped around this cosy comforting setting is the burning embers of a new romance that is navigated so delicately and made for such a heart-warming read.

This Wasn't Meant to Happen by Ali Harris

2025-09-11T08:30:00.004+01:00

This wasn’t meant to happen. But it did.

Sofie Jensen has always lived by logic ― calculating risk, staying in control, believing that if she did everything right, life would follow the rules. But nothing could prepare her for the unimaginable: the stillbirth of her baby boy.

Now, grief carves a hollow space where joy once lived, and love ― so fierce, so fragile ― teeters on the edge. Nothing adds up anymore. Not the life she had. Not the future she imagined.

I have read all of Ali Harris previous books and I have really missed her writing so I couldn't wait to read another book by her but this book hit completely different. As I finished reading this book I just had to sit in peace for a while because this storyline really did hit hard. This is such a raw honest and brave storyline that feels so personal and heartbreaking and at one point I found tears rolling down my cheeks without even realising I was crying because I was so enveloped in Sofie and Rory's bubble of grief that I lost track of the outside world.

This story so so delicately and carefully told and for me it really did open my eyes. I have never been a greatly maternal woman and I have no children of my own so I wasn't sure if this book would touch my heart but it not only touched it but broke it into pieces. Seeing how men and women deal with the grief of losing a still born baby differently and not always being able to navigate this cruel journey together makes everything so much more heart wrenching. It also highlights how challenging it is to try and fit back into " normal " life again after the loss has reshaped you it shows how far we still need to come in future in helping those who are grieving to be able to take the time they need and be able to offer the support needed without hurdles and pressure constraints.

What broke my heart even more after reading this book was discovering that the author herself has and is living similar footsteps as Sofie and the courage and bravery for her to write her experiences into this storyline is remarkable and I really hope that this book gets into the hands of readers who will feel like they are alone in their journey of baby loss to feel a sense of understanding and being seen.

This is quite simply the most heart-breaking and thought provoking read I have read in such a long time and it is certainly going to leave a mark on me.

Available to buy here