BLOG TOUR: The Cat Share - Angela Jariwala

Sometimes it’s as simple as meeting the boy next door.

 

Jenni lives alone with her cat Oscar – yes, she’s single but, after breaking up with her boyfriend, she’s more than content to be living alone. Sometimes she worries she might be playing things too safe, but she’s had enough of taking risks.

 

Ben is a firefighter and, if he’s honest, he’s finding life hard. The arrival of a small tabby cat, who Ben decides to call Fred, helps him feel less isolated. But then, one day, Ben decides to take a chance. Wanting to reassure Fred’s owner he’s not stealing their cat, he attaches a note to the cat’s collar. 

 

As the two neighbours start corresponding via the cat, their notes to each other reveal the truths they are hiding from even their closest friends, and themselves.

 

The Cat Share is a warm and joyous romantic comedy about two strangers in love with one very greedy cat, inspired by a true story, for fans of The Flat Share, You’ve Got Mail and Rescue Me.

 

What did I think?

Consider my heart officially warmed after reading The Cat Share by Angela Jariwala.  It is so lovely that it really did leave me feeling like I had a visible warm glow around me.

The two main characters, Jenni and Ben, have both had their hearts broken so they're settling into the safety of a single life.  Jenni has her cat Oscar to keep her company although he keeps going missing and unbeknown to Jenni ends up in Ben's house.  Oscar is so greedy, you'd think he had never been fed the way he cries for food and with Jenni and Ben both feeding him, that cat flap is going to be a tight squeeze very soon.

The romance part of the story is so sweet and it really makes you realise that it's a small world as Jenni and Ben seem to be drawn to each other like magnets (stuck on their hearts by Oscar, no doubt).  I can't tell you how many times I laughed at Oscar's antics; I don't have a cat but I could easily visualise some of his strops and manipulations.

Incredibly heartwarming and delightfully romantic, The Cat Share is a very funny feel-good book that I intend to read again.  A very highly recommended read and one not to be missed for rom-com fans.

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: The Man Who Ran - Mark Stibbe

When he saw it, it was like a shotgun discharging in Jake’s face. His unbeatable hand had been beaten. 

When Jake Graystone becomes addicted to poker, he decides to abandon his family and indulge his new-found craving without restraint. Running away to a northern city on Christmas Eve, he discovers the Arcadia Casino and starts to play. With the help of a rare gift for reading his opponents, he quickly gains fame and fortune.

One year later, again on Christmas Eve, Jake is challenged to a heads-up match by a player called the Undertaker. When his adversary tilts him, Jake finds himself on the run again. With the help of a German Shepherd and a homeless friend, Jake outfoxes the gunman who pursues him - until one fateful night when they come face to face.

I didn’t want to put this down. A heartwarming story that would be great as a film. I hope this book reaches addicts and helps turn their lives around - Angela Lee

If you like Christmas, you’ll absolutely treasure this book - Jimbo Sun

A thoroughly gripping, enjoyable read that tugs on all the right emotions - Jules Loveland

Winner of the 2020 Page Turner Award for Fiction, Mark Stibbe is a full-time novelist specialising in exciting supernatural stories. The Man Who Ran is the new, expanded version of King of Hearts. 

What did I think?

Well this was an unexpectedly poignant tale.  The Man Who Ran is like a mixture of your favourite Christmas movies and festive books all rolled into one.  Think the ghosts of A Christmas Carol, the dire straits of It's a Wonderful Life and the charity of strangers in Home Alone, to name but a few.

Jake is a maths teacher who is at risk of redundancy when he finds he has the skills to play poker.  Seeing an easy way to make money, he becomes addicted to gambling but there's a cost to winning at the tables and it's a price his wife and sons must pay.  Jake doesn't seem to care though, all he can think about is the next game so he walks out on his family without a backwards glance.

Oh Jake, I was so disappointed in him as he headed off to the bright lights of Casino City that sounded remarkably like Newcastle with an angel statue standing guard on the outskirts.  As we know, the house never loses and I thought Jake deserved everything he got when things inevitably turned to sh*t so I was surprised to feel empathy towards him the further down he fell.  I think Mark Stibbe has sprinkled a bit of the magic of Christmas inside the book as I was wishing peace and goodwill to all men (apart from the Undertaker) towards the end.

Incredibly poignant and thought-provoking, The Man Who Ran is a modern-day festive fable that really makes you stop and think about your own life and the rest of humankind.  It is entertaining but also compassionate and it has a hint of the supernatural to add an extra touch of magic over the festive period.

I'm putting The Man Who Ran on my book shelf alongside A Christmas Carol so I will be reminded to read it every December.  A highly recommended read.

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the Love Books Tours Bookstagram Tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon

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Annarite Born - R. B. Leyland

Two kingdoms. A rebel faction. Overwhelming odds.

The Annar have long been assailed by the slave kingdom next door, but with General Sain of the Annar heading the charge, they have held them at bay. When a prophesized babe is saved from a fiery attack and adopted by the General, he's thrust into a life of God-chosen warriors, rife with betrayal and chaos. Whilst the General and his oldest son move to eradicate a rebel group, his two younger sons strive to train and find their place within the infamous Sain guard. An alarming revelation, traitors around every bend. Will the Sain guard be able to weather the storm? Or will the slave kingdom of the Kerazar finally gain a foothold in the lands they covet? 

What did I think?

Annarite Born is the first book in an exciting new fantasy trilogy and I absolutely loved it.  If you liked Game of Thrones, you will LOVE Annarite Born.

There's a fabulous map in the front of the book to set the scene and it's good to refer to as the story progresses.  It's a shame there is no cast of characters as it took me a while to work out who was who, especially with Aldred having two sons named Alkor and Alnor, so I would recommend writing your own list of names when you start the book.

The plot is riveting though and I had a number of gasp out loud moments as well as a few grimaces from the gory battle scenes.  It is so vividly written that I could easily imagine the scenes that R. B. Leyland was describing as all the sights and sounds of this imagined world played out in my head.

There are some fantastic battle scenes that I enjoyed more than I expected because the tactics and strategy is explained to fully immerse the reader in the events.  Asserting strength and power goes hand in hand with manipulation and treachery and the characters don't know who they can trust.  One of them is drawn into a dark and dangerous web and it had my eyes glued to the page.

Annarite Born has a bit of everything to keep the reader entertained: family, fighting and a heartwarming romance.  It's an outstanding debut novel that I could have continued reading way past its 340th page so I can't wait for the next book.  A very highly recommended read.

I received a gifted paperback from the author via Whimsy Words PR and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Foyles

Amazon

The Water That May Come - Amy Lilwall

As rising seas threaten to engulf Britain, four lives are on the brink: Pinko, a privileged heir clinging to decadence; Jane, a working-class veterinary nurse racing to reunite her family; her pregnant teenage daughter Ashleigh, grappling with impending motherhood; and humble young artist Gavin. With sanctuary beckoning across the Channel, each faces impossible choices. Who will they save? What will they sacrifice?

A lyrical, thought-provoking novel which blurs borders and challenges notions of identity and belonging. In a future where we all may become refugees, it asks: how far would you go to stay afloat? 

What did I think?

I. Am. Broken.  What an outstanding novel!  I didn't expect The Water That May Come to break my heart as much as it did but it really affected me and I have to admit that I may have shed a tear or two.

The timeline in the book ebbs and flows like the tide as the past is gradually revealed.  It is so incredibly thought-provoking and really made me think about the consequences of your actions, however small, causing ripples across time.  It's very much a sliding doors moment where things could have been completely different if only...

It is so beautifully written by Amy Lilwall with tension and suspense of the possible flood weaving through the prose as people try to flee to safety.  The four main characters all have contrasting circumstances and views but they are linked together by fate.  It made me wonder what I would do in the same situation and also made me consider refugees of today who leave their homeland in search of a better and safer life.

I went into The Water That May Come expecting a speculative, dystopian cli-fi thriller but it is so much more than that.  My heart was pounding so much it's no wonder that it eventually broke and I was absolutely devastated at a particularly poignant moment.  I'm feeling upset just thinking about it now; thar's how much the beautiful, evocative writing affected me.

Unputdownable and unforgettable, The Water That May Come is one of the most addictive books I've read this year.  A very highly recommended and unmissable read.  An easy five stars!

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Fly on the Wall Press (use code BOOKMAGNET10 for 10% off)

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: Saint Cuthbert's Curse - M M Hudson

A searing July heatwave. Four bodies.

When corpses begin turning up in abandoned County Durham coal mines, police detective Tony Milburn is pulled into a chilling mystery. All four dead within four days but can Saint Cuthbert’s ancient curse really be the cause?

Durham’s iconic Miners’ Gala suffers a bizarre disruption and, amid the chaos, several high value artefacts are stolen.

As the caseload heats up, the Major Crimes Team is understaffed and under pressure. Aided by the enigmatic surfer, Penfold, but suffering the obsessive attentions of DC Diane Meredith, Milburn comes up against his toughest investigation yet.

The fourth Penfold mystery novel digs deep into the north-east’s heritage, as long-buried church secrets and the legacy of coal intertwine in Saint Cuthbert’s Curse.

 

What did I think?

I love this series that is set in my local area so I was delighted to see a new book in the Penfold Mysteries.  Saint Cuthbert's Curse is the fourth book of the fantastic series that is set in Durham and I have somehow missed book three so I will be sure to rectify that omission.  You can of course read it as a standalone as it has its own self-contained plot as well as characters from the earlier books.

The plotting is razor-sharp and the writing is breathtakingly descriptive so, although I do know the various locations in the book, it's very easy to imagine walking the streets of Durham with DS Milburn and his Holmes-like friend Penfold.  They certainly need their wits about them when investigating this case.

The Miners' Gala is a huge event in Durham's calendar and it is beautifully depicted.  I loved the intertwining of our coal history and Saint Cuthbert's treasure.  Durham Cathedral is also incredibly vividly described so you feel as if you are right there amongst the action.  Although the story is fiction, it's always good to read about real places and streets that you know or can look up on the internet.

Incredibly gripping, sharp and clever, Saint Cuthbert's Curse is a fantastic crime novel in an unmissable series.  A very highly recommended read.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Miles Hudson

Amazon

About the author:

Miles Hudson loves words and ideas.

He’s a physics teacher, surfer, author, hockey player, inventor, backpacker and idler.

Miles was born in Minneapolis but has lived in Durham in northern England for more than 35 years.

www.mileshudson.com

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Whispers of the Elixir: (Order of the Ember, 1) - C. P. Silver

 

A matriarchal empire. A princess with forbidden magic. A mother who would kill to protect her own legacy.

As heir to the Min empire, Tori has spent her life under the iron will of her mother, Empress Zinchen—a sovereign determined to shape the world in her own image. But Tori has been hiding a dangerous secret: a forbidden elemental power tied to the world’s mythic past. If Zinchen discovers the truth, it will cost Tori her life.

Haunted by this threat, Tori flees into the hidden lands—an ancient realm of ghost-flowers, sentient forests, and immortals from a half-remembered age. But magic here is neither blessing nor curse—it is a reflection, a test, a force that shapes as much as it destroys. And as her trials progress, Tori is stripped of certainty and pride. To survive her mother’s ambition, she must use what she learns to suppress the power that could doom her—but in doing so, she risks losing the very future she was born to inherit.

Whispers of the Elixir begins the Order of the Ember series—a character-driven epic of legacy, sacrifice, and the strength of a princess destined to rise from the shadows and claim her place in legend.

In Whispers of the Elixir, you will find the political intrigue of Andrea Stewart, the mythic depth of Katherine Arden, and the emotional resonance of M.L. Wang.

What did I think?

Whispers of the Elixir is an outstanding debut novel from C. P. Silver.  It's a fantastic start to a very exciting new fantasy series and I can't wait to read more.  There's a map and a list of characters at the start of the book, which I always love to see in chunky novels like this.

I'm quite new to fantasy novels so it took me a little while to really get into the book whilst the world building was setting the vivid scene.  This is a world where women rule, which adds a nice feminist slant to the story.  Empress Zinchen is an intriguing character but it's her daughter Tori who is the main character.  I loved Tori right from the start; she has a very strong mind and is filled with compassion for others. 

Tori has a power that she has kept hidden but she is taught how to use it when she steps through the Veil of Ayenashi.  I really enjoyed this part of the story that is filled with magic and rivalry, kind of like an open air Hogwarts.  There's rivalry among the students and some hard to please teachers that keeps Tori on her toes.

Vivid, immersive and compelling, Whispers of the Elixir is pure escapism and so beautifully written that I had to double check it's a debut novel.  C. P. Silver has very cleverly left the reader wanting to read more whilst still giving the book a satisfying ending.  The Order of the Ember is going to be an epic series based on the events in Whispers of the Elixir and I can't wait to see where Tori's story takes her next.

I received a gifted copy for the Love Books Tours readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Blackwells

Foyles

Amazon

About the author

C.P. Silver didn’t set out to write epic fantasy. She spent years doing things far more sensible—practicing law, mastering French, even studying Chinese medicine. Yet between the courtrooms and the clinic notes, writing remained her quiet constant. Then came a tale that glimmered brighter than the rest: a daughter forced to lie to survive, and a mother who prized legacy over love.

Her debut novel, Whispers of the Elixir, unfolds in a world where matriarchy is absolute—from the first breath of creation to the empress on the throne, down to the smallest rhythms of family life—recasting questions of power, inheritance, and identity through an unapologetically female lens. In this empire, wielding the wrong kind of magic could cost you your life. Praised for its evocative prose and lush worldbuilding, the book explores power, identity, and quiet defiance.

Beyond the page, C.P. Silver finds inspiration in peaceful places—walking forest trails, reading the classics, or reflecting on worlds within and beyond language.

Follow C.P. Silver:

Instagram: @cpsilver_author 

Facebook: cpsilverauthor

Website: https://www.cpsilver.com/ 

BLOG TOUR: Strange Islands - Philip Stanier

A blind survivor.

A ship on an unknown voyage.

Islands that are both stories and worlds.

Rescued from a fire at sea, you are taken aboard a drifting ship. Each night, the captain describes a new island — places of wonder, ruin, satire, and sorrow. From hollowed out mountains to beaches rebuilt with every tide, these islands form a fractured atlas of a broken world. Strange Islands is a voyage told through fragments, fables, and uncanny visions.

 

What did I think?

Strange by name and strange by nature.  That was my initial impression of Strange Islands by Philip Stanier but as I turned each page I was drawn deeper and deeper into the weird and wonderful web that had been woven by the dreamlike and lyrical prose.

It's a very difficult book to describe as I think every reader needs to experience it for themselves.  I was just coasting along on a crest on a wave when I had a moment of clarity that made me exclaim out loud.  I think it was the chapter about skyscrapers that made me pause to reflect on the damage we have done to our planet.

Strange Islands is a book I would like to read again now that I have finished reading it.  It is so vividly described that I felt as if I had been pulled into the book to experience every island for myself.  It's a book that refuses to sit in any one genre; fantasy, cli-fi, dystopian, speculative...it has a foot in each one but is something very unique and unusual.

Captivating, thought-provoking and poetic, Strange Islands is a book that is difficult to put down once you pick it up and it is a book that has stayed with me long after turning the final page.  If you're looking for something extraordinary and original to read then I would highly recommend Strange Islands.

I received a gifted hardback to read and review for the Love Books Tours Bookstagram Tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Never Look Back - Susan Lewis

Book 3 in the Cristy Ward series

A dead husband. A missing wife. Will they find her in time?

Romy Kaplan has vanished from her home.

Or has she?

When Romy begins posting on her social media accounts asking everyone to stop looking for her, the police are certain she is safe. But Romy's nearest and dearest are far from convinced.

Her husband died in the bath under inconclusive circumstances six weeks ago. And Romy would never disappear without telling someone where she is going.

As true crime podcast host, Cristy Ward, picks up Romy's case… she has the whole world asking…

Where is Romy now?

 

What did I think?

Never Look Back is the third Cristy Ward mystery but you can read each one as a standalone.  I jumped into the series at book two so I really enjoyed catching up with Cristy, her family and the podcast team again.   

The standalone story is the mysterious disappearance of Romy Kaplan.  Romy is newly widowed after the sudden death of her husband Romi but to be out of contact with her friends for so long is out of character.  Cristy isn't even sure at first that there's a mystery to solve as Romy is posting on social media but appearances can certainly be deceptive.

Cristy's personal life is an entertaining part of the novel too.  She has a long distance relationship with David but they both carry a lot of baggage and I'm not surprised that Cristy sometimes feels insecure.  David, meanwhile, gets on famously with Matthew (Cristy's ex-husband) but Matthew regrets ever leaving Cristy so he's always looking to shine a less favourable light on David, which is very entertaining.

I loved reading the podcast transcripts that add extra depth and authenticity to an already intriguing story.  It's very cleverly plotted by Susan Lewis to draw the reader's eye in different directions while she weaves her magic words in this unputdownable mystery.

Incredibly compelling and extremely gripping, Never Look Back is a thought-provoking and sobering novel about hidden dangers lurking in the world of today.  It's a fresh and modern mystery that had me riveted from start to finish and I highly recommend it.

I received a gifted hardback to read and review for the Insta Book Tours Instagram Tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Accidents Will Happen - Andrew J Field

 

Nothing is ever an accident — everything happens for a reason.

Did a talented classical violist jump or slip off a cliff?  An inquest delivers a verdict of death by accident, but two friends of Lisa Wright believe she leapt and want somebody to blame other than themselves. The antithesis of plot-driven suspense and resolution thrillers, Accidents is a noir exploration of guilt, bereavement and injustice.

What did I think?

Did she jump, did she fall or was she pushed?  That's the question I kept asking myself when reading Accidents Will Happen but in the end it doesn't really matter as either way a life has been lost. It's a short book at 124 pages but every single word has been carefully crafted by Andrew J Field into an intriguing, thought-provoking and poignant read.

Lisa Wright was on a run with her personal trainer, Mike Nicholls, when she ended up dead at the bottom of the cliffs in Berwick-upon-Tweed.  The book opens as the Northumberland coroner's court investigates whether Lisa's death was suicide or a tragic accident.  First on the stand is Mike and the reader is privy to his thoughts so we know he's not telling the whole truth...but what is he hiding and why?

I love the layout of the book that is set in two parts: 'On the record' and 'Off the record'.  On the record is set in court and takes us through the inquest into Lisa's death, whilst Off the record is where Mike and Lisa's friend Sally search for the truth about what really happened.  It's interesting that both of them want to absolve themselves of any blame in Lisa's death, which does make you wonder how much they did actually contribute to it.

The book is quite dark in places as Mike's mental health is explored and Lisa's historical abuse comes to light but it is very compulsive reading and I couldn't put it down.  Accidents Will Happen is the kind of book I would call a genre-buster as it refuses to be put in any one box, creating almost a genre of its own.  It's well worth a read and I plan to read it again to pick up all the nuances of Andrew J Field's impeccable writing.

I received a gifted hardback to read and review for the Love Books Tours Instagram Tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Hit the North

Amazon

About the author:

Andrew J Field lives with Catherine by the sea in Berwick-upon-Tweed in Northumberland, next to the docks, three bridges, and close to the Scottish border. He writes post-modern ironic noirish thrillers. Books include After the Bridge and All Down the Line. He is currently working on You Are One of Us, a Mott the Hoople tribute book. A member of the Society of Authors, he has a MA in novel writing from the University of Manchester. He also runs Hit the North ...and likes coffee, dry white wine and scoffing fish and chips overlooking the Tweed estuary. His latest novel is Accidents Will Happen, the antithesis of plot-driven suspense and resolution thrillers.

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BLOG TOUR: The Corpse Bell - Ian McFadyen

 

The last thing Penny Carmichael expected when she joined the local bellringing group was for her debut to be thwarted by the discovery of a body just yards from the belfry door. As her husband and his loyal team painstakingly sift through the evidence and delve deep into the dead man's past, it's clear that solving Peter Mackenzie's murder may prove a challenge, even for someone with DCI Carmichael's renowned detective prowess.

What was a man who'd lived for decades in North London doing in Moulton Bank?  Was his chequered past a factor?

And what about the other members of Penny's bellringing group. Did any of them have a reason to do Peter harm? 

As the case unfolds, DCI Carmichael and his trusty team seek answers to a complex puzzle which leads them along various paths and, at times, way outside the comfort zone of their rural Lancashire surroundings. 

This fast-paced, cleverly crafted whodunit is the eleventh murder mystery in the gripping Carmichael series from the pen of Ian McFadyen.

What did I think?

The Corpse Bell is the eleventh book in the DCI Carmichael series but it's my first and I thoroughly enjoyed it, so it can definitely be read as a standalone.

The village of Moulton Bank is a dangerous place to live when there's a killer on the loose.  As it's the first book I have read in the series, I was suspicious of everyone but I wasn't even close to guessing who it actually was.

There's a bit of a powerplay among the bellringers as only one person is allowed to ring the corpse bell at funerals.  This puts all of the bellringers under suspicion as they all have motive, although DCI Carmichael should be able to rule out Penny, the newest addition to the bellringing team, as he is married to her.

I loved the inclusion of the police lists which made me feel like I was part of the investigative team.  It was great to see things being crossed off the lists and new items being added and I thought it would have felt a bit repetitive but it gave me the chance to run through the clues again.  Not that I was even remotely pointing in the right direction of course!  Well played, Mr McFadyen!

Entertaining, intriguing and immersive, The Corpse Bell is a brilliant murder mystery that makes the reader feel like they are part of the police team.  I will definitely be looking to read the earlier books in the series as I loved this one.

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the Rachel's Random Resources blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the author:

Ian McFadyen was born in Liverpool and enjoyed a successful career in marketing before becoming a writer. Ian’s titles are available in Italian and Czech and, although the author isn’t totally convinced it’s true, he’s been favourably compared with Wilkie Collins and Colin Dexter. He lives in Hertfordshire with his wife but spends a great deal of his time writing in his bolthole retreat on the Norfolk / Suffolk border. The Corpse Bell is the eleventh in his series featuring DCI Carmichael.

Social Media Links – 

Facebook:  Facebook.com/ianmcfadyenauthor

Twitter / X :  @ianMcFadyen1

Instagram : @ianwmcfadyen

Website: https://www.ianmcfadyenauthor.com/ 

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BLOG TOUR: The Starling Dance - Lucy Elena

 

In a sweltering Roman summer, Laure is trying to start a new life. But can she manage in a city where walls have ears, trees have eyes and even the birds are acting strangely?

It’s been exactly one year since the shit hit the fan and Laure's anxiety exploded into a full-blown burn out. In search of a new start she’s moved to Rome – pasta, Aperol and sunshine should make everything better, right?

But with her 30s around the corner, la bella vita isn’t going to plan.

1. Her boyfriend, the dreamy Davide, has disappeared (Either Laure’s been ghosted or he’s accidentally fallen off a cliff – hopefully)
2. She wants to murder her neighbours: their arguments are keeping her up all night.

In her local café, Laure meets a handsome stranger and the sparks fly, that is until she finds herself caught in a big lie.

‘Hmmm, it’s not ideal,’ says her best friend Eva, as she puffs on a spliff in the bathtub.

Just as things are heating up, a talking tree enters the fray (as if this Roman summer wasn’t weird enough, just ask the birds).

That tree is Viviano, a dynamic and adventurous street performer who poses around the Eternal City dressed as a tree, well, sometimes a cat too and sometimes a ripe tomato. He could be thriving in life but something is holding him back. One thing is certain though: he wants to meet Laure.

Will Laure find her path? Will she accidentally put pineapple on a pizza? And is there a real love story to be found in the surreal swirls of the Italian capital?

The Starling Dance is a love story full of quirk, humour and heart-warming characters, each trying to overcome their personal obstacles and demons to give themselves a chance at life and love.

What did I think?

The Starling Dance is a fantastic debut novel from Lucy Elena.  It may be quite a short book with 184 pages but it is packed with drama, fun and romance.  

I empathised with Laure right from the start as both the work burnout and the noisy neighbours are something I have experienced myself.  Laure is such a strong character though; it takes real courage to leave your home and start again in a new country.  If only her boyfriend hadn't gone radio silent and her neighbours would give the arguing a break for once.

It is very funny when Laure meets a new man in a café and what starts off as a small lie suddenly spirals out of control.  The lies just keep on growing and with Laure being so sleep deprived, it's almost certainly going to trip her up at some point.

Interspersed with Laure's story, we are introduced to Viviano who is very observant human statue.  Viviano has been watching Laure, not in a creepy way but in a love at first sight kind of way, but he has never had the opportunity to speak to her...until now.  Oh I loved Viviano and I was rooting for him to get his girl.

As well as the heartwarming and unusual love story, there are lots of laughs in the book and just thinking of a particular scene in Laure's office is making me laugh out loud now.  I'm not going to spoil it but the attempt to get a photo is hilarious.

Beautifully written, incredibly entertaining and completely mesmerising, The Starling Dance is a stunning first novel that makes me very excited to see what Lucy Elena writes next.  A very highly recommended read and one that I would like to read again.

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the Rachel's Random Resources blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the author:

Lucy Elena is a Londoner with a love of languages and exploring new different cultures. For most of her career she has been a journalist reporting across Europe and Latin America. But she has also experimented with career forays into pasta making (yes, like an Italian nonna) and teaching. Lucy has always loved dreaming up and telling stories and The Starling Dance is her debut novel. When not writing or working, Lucy enjoys spending time with friends and family, trying out new foods and pretending she can play the ukulele.

Social Media Links – 

Instagram: lucyelenabooks

Facebook: Lucy Elena

Tiktok: @lucyelenabooks

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The Dog Sitter Detective's Christmas Tail - Antony Johnston

It's almost Christmas, and actress and amateur sleuth Gwinny Tuffel is still pondering what to buy DCI Birch (retired) and whether she could adopt a new furry friend.

But sorting through her late father's papers leads her into his mysterious past, pointing to an enigmatic 'liaison' now living in a Somerset commune populated by a group of retired spies.

When Gwinny and Birch are unexpectedly snowed in at the remote farmhouse, they find that any skeletons in her father's closet have been joined by a body in the attic.

Surrounded by people for whom keeping secrets is second nature, along with an energetic Cocker Spaniel, Gwinny and Birch are embroiled in a murder case once again.

Will they uncover the culprit and escape in time for Christmas?

 

What did I think?

The Dog Sitter Detective's Christmas Tail is the fourth book in the Dog Sitter Detective series but you can certainly read it as a standalone.  I only discovered the series at book three, The Dog Sitter Detective Plays Dead, but I loved catching up with Gwinny and Birch again. 

Gwinny and Birch head off on an intriguing trip when Gwinny discovers a mysterious old folder among her late father's effects.  It turns out to be a very interesting discovery indeed as the trail leads Gwinny and Birch into the world of spies, secrets and espionage.

Oh my goodness, I absolutely loved this book and raced through it as quickly as the snow fell on the remote farmhouse where Gwinny was delving into her father's surprising past.  The snow falls thick and fast so Gwinny and Birch get snowed in and the story turns into a fantastic locked room mystery when a body is found in the morning and not a flake of snow has been disturbed.  

The characters are so wonderfully drawn that they virtually pop out of the page.  I could both visualise and hear them in my head as the riveting story unfolded.  There are so many secrets and mysteries in the book that I raced through it and read it a lot quicker than I expected.  It's perhaps not as festive as you might expect from the cover, but it's more realistic and authentic and doesn't need twinkly lights and sparkly tinsel.

Impossible to predict and difficult to put down, The Dog Sitter Detective's Christmas Tail is a riveting and intriguing locked room mystery that will delight fans of cosy crime.  A very highly recommended read.

I received a gifted hardback from Allison & Busby and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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