BLOG TOUR: Under Vixens Mere - Kit Fielding

After Harry Jones takes his life in the chilling waters of Vixens Mere, not one body is recovered, but two.

Vixens Mere marina hosts a ragtag houseboat community whose lives are as tangled as their mooring ropes, each trying to escape something.

A marriage damaged by PTSD, a guilty lover, aging hippies with a secret sadness, a newcomer escaping a toxic relationship, and a kindhearted misfit whose loyalty is tested to the limit.

Under Vixens Mere tells the story of these boondock boat dwellers as they unify against investigators, vindictive exes, and anyone else who messes with them.

Step aboard and lose yourself in the complex ties of this small community.

 

What did I think?

Under Vixens Mere is a real hidden gem of a novel as I almost didn't pick it up but I'm so glad that I did.  It is filled with drama and secrets as the reader peeks through the curtains of each houseboat in Vixens Mere marina.  There's a fabulous hand-drawn map in the front of the book too - yay!

The haunting prologue hit me like a sucker punch as Harry Jones steps foot in Vixens Mere to end his life.  Harry's story continues throughout the book and it is so incredibly poignant that it brings tears to my eyes just thinking of it now.  The police are puzzled when they recover Harry's body and find another body beneath him.  What a fabulous mystery!

I loved how each chapter starts with the name of the boat and the characters in the scene.  The houseboat community is very close-knit and they will do anything for each other.  This story sets out exactly what they will do for their friends and it's not just about hiding the bodies.

I was completely riveted from start to finish and once I picked up Under Vixens Mere I couldn't put it down, reading it in two sittings.  I adored the marina setting and the eclectic characters who I really came to care about.

Entertaining, compelling and poignant, Under Vixens Mere is a fabulous book that shocked, surprised and delighted me.  I loved it and think it's well worth a read.

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

My rating:

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About the author:

Kit Fielding plans and writes his novels in a motorhome at various locations around the country. 

The feeling of impermanence is natural to him due to his mother’s traveller roots and a childhood succession of tied-cottages accommodation in different parts of England. 

Kit Fielding says that there was always a curiosity about what was waiting, or was lurking, just around the corner. This legacy has stayed with him to the present day and it feeds into his work.

Social Media Links:

Insta: @inkspotpub 

FB: Inkspotpublishing

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The Ten Year Affair - Erin Somers

Two parents. Happily married. Just not to each other.

When Cora meets Sam at a baby group in their small town, the chemistry between them is instant and undeniable. But both are happily married, and neither is the type to cheat. So as their lives intertwine and the romantic tension between them heightens, Cora turns to her imagination: in her head, she and Sam pursue their feelings; in reality, they resist.

Yet as the fantasy affair grows ever more intoxicating, it can't help but cast Cora's everyday life - the mushroom problem in the bathroom, her daughter's new fascination with the afterlife, her husband's obsession with podcasts about the history of rope - in a new light. And when the boundaries grow increasingly blurred, she must decide what truly matters.

Razor-sharp, exhilaratingly honest and salted with an irresistible acerbic wit, The Ten Year Affair explores family life, fidelity and the roads not taken, and ultimately asks: do we really want our fantasies to come true?

 

What did I think?

The Ten Year Affair isn't perhaps the type of book I would usually pick up but I rather enjoyed it.  It's brutally honest and surprisingly witty so I found myself laughing out loud on a number of occasions but it has a serious subject at its heart: infidelity.

Although I didn't particularly like any of the characters I think I could understand them.  Cora escapes her mundane life as a wife and mother to a fantasy world where she's having an affair with Sam, a father she met at baby group.  It really made me think about what cheating is.  Are thoughts as bad as actions?

As the story progresses the affair doesn't just continue in Cora's head, it happens in real life but Cora finds that reality isn't a patch on fantasy.  You have to apportion some of the blame to Cora's husband Eliot, who pays very little attention to Cora, and Sam's wife Jules, who is having an affair of her own.  Both couples seem to conveniently forget that they have children though.

I did struggle at times with the 'in the fantasy world' and 'in reality' storyline as I couldn't remember what was happening in each one and it seemed to flick back and forth frequently.  I enjoyed the chapters set during the Covid-19 pandemic as it really highlighted the challenges people faced while forced to spend time with each other.  It is funny reading about people getting used to working from home and I'm sure a lot of people have many funny Zoom stories.

Witty, honest and thought-provoking, The Ten Year Affair is an interesting and entertaining read that is well worth picking up, even if it's just to feel smug about your own relationship.

 

I received a gifted hardback for the Adventures With Words readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: House Party - Chloe Ford

A slow-burn romance fifteen years in the making...

Hattie has spent half her life secretly crushing on Freddie - her best friend Sam's irresistibly gorgeous older brother. But Freddie? He's barely spared a glance for Hattie, the girl Sam befriended one fateful New Years' Eve when they discovered they were birthday twins.

Fast-forward to now: Hattie finds herself single for the first time in years - just before the holidays. Enter Sam, who, in classic best-friend fashion, whisks her away to a remote cabin in the Forest of Dean to cheer her up. Snowy woodland views? Check. A crackling fire and a steamy hot tub? Check. Zero cell service, ravenous wild boars, and an incoming snowstorm of apocalyptic proportions? Also check.

And to make matters even more intense, Freddie joins them, unexpectedly. Still infuriatingly gorgeous, and still ridiculously off-limits. Except this time, he's actually noticing Hattie. But then again, maybe he's been noticing her all along.

Fifteen years of longing. One night to change everything. This New Year's Eve, they're playing with fire.

 

What did I think?

The romance may be slow-burn in House Party but it's a binge-worthy book that is impossible to put down.  If you loved Friends (and who didn't?) then you will love House Party as the flashback chapters entitled 'The one where...' reminded me of my favourite TV show.  It also reminded me of the feelings I had after watching Four Weddings and a Funeral, leaving me with a warm glow and a smile on my face.

Hattie and her best friend Sam sort of share a birthday; Sam is 31st December and Hattie is 1st January so they have a triple celebration when they bring in each New Year.  Hattie met Sam on his 14th birthday and they have been inseparable ever since.  Sam sets a condition of their friendship: his older brother Freddie is off limits.  That's fine when Hattie is 13 years old and not that interested in boys but the heart wants what the heart wants and she can't escape Freddie's orbit.

Sam, Hattie and their friends book a lodge in the countryside to celebrate their 29th birthdays and Freddie invites himself along.  When the snow starts to fall the temperature starts to rise and the sexual tension between Freddie and Hattie is so sizzling I'm surprised they didn't turn the snow into a raging flood.

Incredibly romantic and completely addictive, I absolutely loved House Party.  It's a fabulous slow-burn romance that is sure to warm your heart on a cold night.  You'll not need to curl up under a blanket with this book as it will get your pulse racing and your temperature rising on its own merit.  Very highly recommended.

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the 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: Let's Make a Scene - Laura Wood

Their story might be scripted, but the chemistry is real...

When Cynthie Taylor gets her first real acting job, starring in a small British movie, she is over the moon. There is only one problem... Cynthie's arrogant and annoyingly handsome co-star Jack hates her, and the feeling is definitely mutual. While they may be at war behind the scenes, their on-screen chemistry is palpable, and the studio sees an opportunity – have the two young stars fake a romance that will charm fans and draw crowds.

Thirteen years later, Cynthie and Jack have successfully kept their promise to stay far away from one another, until a surprising offer comes to make a sequel to the cult classic that launched their careers. But there's a catch: they must also rekindle their pretend relationship...and this time there's a documentary crew following their every move.

Cynthie and Jack both desperately need this film to work, but can two ex-rivals ever really trust each other? And what happens when the roles they're playing start to feel all too real?

 

What did I think?

Oh my goodness, I absolutely LOVED Let's Make a Scene!  Although it is linked to Under Your Spell (that I haven't read yet), it is a completely standalone story and it's one that gets your pulse racing, your breath catching and (in my case) the tears falling.

I applaud Laura Wood for writing a dual timeline and dual point of view novel as it is flawlessly written.  It is told from the points of view of Cythie and Jack who met 13 years ago on the set of Cynthie's first film.  A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since and Cynthie's career took off at lightening speed but as the saying goes: "the higher you climb, the harder you fall" and a scandal sees Cynthie returning back to where it all began.

It is clear that Cynthie and Jack have History (with an intentional capital H) and I couldn't read fast enough to discover what went on 13 years ago that drove this clearly meant-to-be couple apart.  To save Cynthie's career she agrees to a fake relationship with Jack but the line between real and fake is very blurred.  There are so many heartbreaking misunderstandings and guarded feelings as the will they/won't they storyline plays out.

As it's set in the film industry, Laura Wood touches on the #MeToo movement in a sensitive, respectful and powerful way.  Friendship is another strong theme as Cynthie has an amazing friend support network.  The romance is exquisite though and if you thought The Notebook was a tearjerker, be prepared to reach for the tissues when reading Let's Make a Scene! 

Bursting with romance and sizzling with sexual tension, Let's Make a Scene is a compelling page-turner that had me on the edge of my seat as I prayed for a happily ever after for Cynthie and Jack.  You'll just have to read the book to find out whether I got my wish or not.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Rainbows and Lollipops - Mo Fanning

THREE FRIENDS. ONE UNFORGETTABLE SUMMER.

Set against the backdrop of the troubled British summer of 2024, Rainbows and Lollipops weaves together three lives in a warm, witty, and unflinching story about love, loss, and the families we choose.

When Jake met Tom, he thought he'd left Birmingham's gay bars behind forever-until a twist of fate lands him back in his childhood bedroom, sleeping under glow-in-the-dark stars.

Vicky, an ambitious lawyer and lifelong loner, has her life meticulously planned-until threats emerge that no power suit or clever argument can fix.

Lucy has planned every detail of her wedding down to the perfect petals-but "happily ever after" comes with a question mark.

As secrets unravel and lives collide, Jake, Vicky, and Lucy discover that family isn't always blood-it's the people who show up when everything falls apart.

Perfect for fans of Beth O'Leary, Mhairi McFarlane, and Dolly Alderton, Rainbows and Lollipops blends biting social commentary with heartfelt humour and emotional depth in a story about resilience, queer joy, and the surprising places we find our true selves.

 

What did I think?

Mo Fanning shot straight onto my favourite author's list when I read Husbands so I couldn't wait to read his next book, Rainbows and Lollipops, and it is just fabulous, firmly cementing Mo's place on my favourites list.  It gave me all of the feels and it is well named as I experienced a rainbow of emotions whilst reading it.

Written like a TV series, it's definitely a 'one-more-chapter' kind of a book and I absolutely raced through it.  The characters are so vivid and well-developed and, just like real life, it's not all rainbows and lollipops so I can't say that I loved them all as there were a few I loved to hate.

I loved the stories of the three main characters, Jake, Vicky and Lucy.  I just wanted to reach into the book and give them all a hug, especially Jake whose story had me reaching for the tissues to dry my tears.  Vicky's story is very powerful and moving and Lucy just wants someone to love her.  It's almost making me sob just thinking about them now!  Such emotion is what makes their friendship so strong and unbreakable.

As the strapline states, the story takes place in one unforgettable summer and this is certainly one unforgettable and unputdownable book.  It's an easy five stars and deserves as many stars as there are raindrops in the sky.  Exquisite, perfect and incredibly emotional, Rainbows and Lollipops is one of the best books I have read this year.  Very highly recommended.

I received a gifted ARC to read and review and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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About the author:

Page Turner Award finalist Mo Fanning is a part-time novelist, part-time stand-up comic and full-time potty-mouthed homosexual.

Birmingham-based Mo crafts deeply emotional, character-driven stories that blend humour, heartbreak and hope.  With a commitment to authentic LGBTQ+ representation, his work explores the messy, beautiful realities of love, loss and resilience through characters readers can't help but root for.

When not writing, Mo enjoys immersing himself in Birmingham's vibrant culture and finding inspiration in its streets, stories and people.

Follow Mo Fanning:

Website: https://mofanning.co.uk/

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

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mofanning.co.uk

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authormofanning

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

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They Both Die at the End - Adam Silvera

 

A love story with a difference - an unforgettable tale of life, loss and making each day count.

On September 5th, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: they're going to die today. Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they're both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: there's an app for that. It's called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure - to live a lifetime in a single day. 

Another beautiful, heartbreaking and life-affirming book from the brilliant Adam Silvera, author of More Happy Than Not, History Is All You Left Me, What If It's Us, Here's To Us and the Infinity Cycle series.

What did I think?

I've had my eye on They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera for quite a while so I was delighted to be invited to take part in the Tandem Collective readalong.  

It's such an original idea for a world where each person who is going to die that day gets a call from Death-Cast to let them know today is the day.  With one day left to live there are things to do and people to see but simply not enough time to do everything you haven't done, especially if you're teenagers like Mateo and Rufus.

Mateo and Rufus don't know each other at the start of the book but they find each other through the Last Friend app and together they cram as much into their last day as they possibly can.  As well as chapters about Mateo and Rufus, there are a lot of chapters about other characters who either did or didn't get the call from Death-Cast and I loved how they all linked together like a finely woven fabric.

Whilst it is sad, it wasn't as heartbreaking as I expected as I had the whole book to come to terms with the two main characters both dying at the end...it says so in the very title.  It's their last day of living that the book is all about and it's really thought-provoking and strangely uplifting.  Why is it that we only decide to really live when we're told we are about to die?

The book also had me questioning how I would feel about getting a call from Death-Cast and whilst it would be devastating and scary it also made me think about the days where I didn't get a call.  As someone who worries about her loved ones dying, it takes the worry out of every day if you know they will get a call on the day it will inevitably happen.

Highly original and incredibly thought-provoking, They Both Die at the End is a massive wake-up call to live your best day every day.  It feels strange to say I enjoyed it but I really did and I will be most surprised if it doesn't end up being made into a film or miniseries.  An unforgettable and highly recommended read.

I received a gifted copy to read for the Tandem Collective readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: The Seven O'Clock Club - Amelia Ireland

At seven o'clock one Tuesday evening, in a perfectly ordinary tower block near Westminster, four strangers meet for the first time. They each have three things in common: all suffered a traumatic experience six months earlier; all exhibit a dogged inability to put it behind them; and all accepted an invitation to attend tonight's counselling session with the unconventional Genevieve - a determined woman with an unusual theory to test.

But this isn't a novel about psychotherapy or self-forgiveness. Because there is another reason these four people have been brought together. And when that perfectly ordinary tower block near Westminster turns out to be not quite so ordinary, all five are forced to make some unexpected - and, for some, impossible - decisions . . .

A novel about friendship, strength and love, The Seven O'Clock Club is a reminder that life can give you hope. Even in the darkest of spaces.

 

What did I think?

I. Am. Broken.  I have never been so completely blindsided by a book and had the rug pulled out from under me so effectively that I gasped out loud and felt my heart break at the same time.  Then my shattered heart was put back together piece by piece as I devoured every single beautiful word that Amelia Ireland had written in her extraordinary debut novel.

Written in five parts representing the five stages of grief, we are introduced to five characters: four (Victoria, Mischa, Freya and Callum) who are grieving and one (Genevieve) who has set out to help them through the process as part of an experiment.  I experienced a wealth of emotions as each character gradually revealed their own story of loss and it is evident that Amelia Ireland has poured her heart and soul into this novel.

Have your tissues handy when you read this one as the tears come when you least expect it.  I thought I was all cried out but more tears kept appearing and I had a real lump in my throat at the end.  It's a bit of tearjerker but completely uplifting and hopeful too, so hold on to your tissues whilst you're riding The Seven O'Clock Club emotional rollercoaster.

Incredibly poignant and beautifully written, The Seven O'Clock Club is a stunning debut novel that took my breath away and left me speechless.  I'm not sure how Amelia Ireland is ever going to follow this book as she's set such a high bar but what a wonderful problem for a debut author to have.  A very highly recommended read and an easy five stars for this unmissable and unforgettable novel.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the author:

Amelia Ireland wrote The Seven O'Clock Club in memory of her mother, who died shortly after being diagnosed with early onset dementia. She travels extensively for work, beginning the novel on a flight to Kampala and finishing it in a Hilton in Frankfurt.

A lawyer by profession, Amelia lives and works in London. The Seven O'Clock Club is her first novel.

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BLOG TOUR: Same Time Next Week - Milly Johnson

Welcome to Spring Hill, home to a square of independent shops and cafes, a thriving local community and nearby the newest venture, Ray’s Diner. Here a group of women meet once a week over a cup of something warming.

 

Amanda is primary carer to her elderly mother and one of the only women in a male-dominated company. Used to being second-best all her life, is this her time to finally break ranks and shine?

 

Sky works at the repair shop, patching up old teddy bears, and their owners’ hearts. But her heart beats for the one man who is strictly off-limits.

 

Mel has been a loyal and loving wife to Steve for thirty years. Then when he goes to his old school reunion, life as she knows it will never be the same again.

 

Erin is trying to get over a traumatic loss where her guilt weighs more than her grief. Can she find the first step to healing lies in sharing an hour with strangers once a week? 

 

Astrid is feeling in need of a change and a challenge. But when a fantastic opportunity presents itself, who is around to convince her she is worthy enough to take the risk?

 

Can these women find the answers to their worries, acceptance, courage, support here? Join them at the same time next week to find out…

 

What did I think?

Milly Johnson is one of my favourite authors and her new book, Same Time Next Week, is a fabulous as the author herself.  I could never pick a favourite Milly Johnson book as I love them all but Same Time Next Week would be a definite contender.

There are a lot of characters to get to know and you certainly do get to know them throughout the book.  I loved them all as I laughed, cried and fist-bumped the air with them.  I was totally invested in their lives and I am missing them so much I want to read the book all over again right now.

It's so good to have older protagonists who are coping with changes in their bodies and their lives.  Milly tells it like it is and she is so right about the whatdoyoucallit...the menowhatsit thingy.  I thought it was just me who forgot words and left sentences unfinished.  I really must thank Milly for making me feel not quite so abnormal.

This book has everything: lots of drama, bucketfuls of emotion and a huge heart.  It's like a soap opera in a book and I didn't want it to end.  An easy five stars for another outstanding Milly Johnson book and a very highly recommended read.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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Benidorm again (The Benidorm Series Book 2) - Jo Lyons

Benidorm again is the second book in the The Benidorm Series. Follow Connie as she embarks on her first classical tour.

Connie never dreamed she’d get the chance to follow in the footsteps of her beloved late mother, to become a classical singer. But when she attracts jealous comments from the choir, more attention than she would like from the lead tenor and some unwanted scandalous publicity involving the Royal family, she starts to wonder if she is doing the right thing.

Connie soon finds herself caught in a reluctant love triangle with a difficult choice to make - the gorgeous, moody-eyed music producer who was love at first sight, or the exceptionally talented aristocratic millionaire? Determined to follow her heart, she turns to The Dollz and her newly engaged best friends, Ged and Liam, for help, only to find they all have problems of their own.

Who knew touring with the Royal Northern Sinfonia would involve so much drama or so many Royals?

 

What did I think?

I absolutely loved meeting Connie Cooper and The Dollz in Benidorm, Actually so I couldn't wait to read the next book in the series, Benidorm again, to see what happens next and I was not disappointed.  My laughing muscles got a good workout once again at the escapades and drama in this hilarious book.

It's a bittersweet moment for Connie when she is given a starring role in the Northern Sinfonia as it is her dream to follow in her mam's footsteps but her mam isn't here to see Connie shine on stage.  I couldn't feel sad for long though as Jo Lyons shakes her virtual giggle stick and instantly transforms the poignant moment of Connie stepping on stage for the first time into an absolutely brilliant laugh out loud moment that made me almost choke with laughter.  I won't be able to watch Harry Potter again without laughing now!

The Northern Sinfonia tour is filled with drama as the leading man has the chorus girls all aflutter but he only has eyes for Connie.  Connie has to admit that there is amazing chemistry between her and Luke that sets the stage alight but her heart lies with Matteo.

I loved that Connie's new romance from her trip to Benidorm is still going strong, albeit she has only known Matteo for a week before he jets off to work in LA and Connie comes home to join the Northern Sinfonia.  Despite their busy schedules, the couple make plans to meet up in Las Vegas but it's soon hijacked by Connie's friends and before she knows it, her romantic trip to Vegas has been turned into a Barbie and Ken themed group outing.

Connie's friends, Ged and Liam and The Dollz, provide much of the hilarity as their lives are a constant drama show.  I absolutely love The Dollz; their antics make the cast of Geordie Shore look tame!  I really can't wait to read about the Vegas trip so I have book 3, Benidorm Cocktail Hour, already lined up to start reading.

Benidorm again is an absolutely brilliant sequel to a sparkling debut novel.  I didn't think it would be possible to contain even more laughs and drama but Jo Lyons packs the hilarity and high jinks in once again to leave her readers clamouring for more.  A very highly recommended read filled with fun, laughter and drama.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

BLOG TOUR: The Bookshop Ladies - Faith Hogan

Bestselling Irish writer, Faith Hogan, has created another gripping saga of friendship, betrayal and secrets in this story of a widow in search of answers to a shocking confession by her dying husband.

Joy Blackwood has no idea why her French art dealer husband has left a valuable painting to a woman called Robyn Tessier in Ballycove, a small town on the west coast of Ireland, but she is determined to find out.

She arrives in Ballycove to find that Robyn runs a rather chaotic and unprofitable bookshop. She is shy, suffering from unrequited love for dashing Kian, and badly in need of advice on how to make the bookshop successful.

As Joy becomes entangled in the daily dramas of Ballycove, uncovering the secrets behind her husband's painting grows increasingly challenging. When she finally musters the courage to confront the truth, her revelation sends shockwaves through the tight-knit community she's grown to love.

 

What did I think?

Faith Hogan is one of my favourite authors and I didn't think I could love one of her Ballycove books more than I already do and then she goes and writes one set in a bookshop.  As well as books, it is of course filled with drama, secrets and the wonderful Ballycove community spirit.

I had tears in my eyes before I had even finished the dramatic prologue as Joy's life changed forever in the blink of an eye.  Not only does Joy have her own grief to deal with, she is rocked by a confession her husband made with his final breath.  Joy leaves her home in Paris and sets of to Ballycove in Ireland to hand deliver a painting that her husband has bequeathed in his will.

Joy is rightfully angry but her anger vanishes almost instantly the moment she steps inside the bookshop owned by Robyn Tessier.  Robyn assumes that Joy has come to volunteer for work and Joy is too polite (and a little shellshocked) to set Robyn straight.  It's not ideal to start a friendship with secrets and it gets harder to find the right time to be honest as time goes on, but I could tell that Joy's heart was in the right place and that Ballycove had a firm grip of Joy's heart.

The wonderful community of Ballycove once again plays a huge part in the story and it was lovely to see some old faces that I have come to know and love over the years.  The Bookshop Ladies is a standalone novel though, so you don't need to have read any of the other books to enjoy it.

A book set in a bookshop is a book lover's dream and The Bookshop Ladies is a wonderfully heartwarming and engaging read.  There are books aplenty to delight the bookworms among us but it's the characters who leave a lasting impression on the reader in this very highly recommended read.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: The Affair - Claire Allan

Her heart is thumping now, only just distinguishable from the roar of the water and the wind. This is not safe. She is not safe…

She realises then, only one of them is coming back out alive.

She’s the person I want to be. Sorcha Hannon, survivor of a devastating affair. She’s found the healing and hope I desperately need to find for myself.

And now that Sorcha and I are friends, I am no longer alone. Instead of days hiding away from the world, I have someone to talk to. I feel as if I finally belong.

There’s just one small catch. Sorcha Hannon isn’t just a new friend to me, and she certainly isn’t a stranger. In fact, I know the ins and outs of her life, and her marriage, almost as well as she does. But if she finds out who I really am, I’ll lose everything. Then again, as Sorcha says, no one’s life is really as perfect as it seems… and I should have realised, I’m not the only one with secrets.

What did I think?

As soon as I read the prologue of The Affair I knew I was hooked and I couldn't read fast enough to find out how it all got to this heart-pounding point.

Claire Allan really gets under the readers skin and inside their minds with her fabulous psychological thrillers and The Affair is no exception.  I started off with very little sympathy for Tina as she made her bed by sleeping with a married man and now she's trying to befriend his wife.  Sorcha seemed a little too perfect for me and she almost lives and breathes the perceived perfection of Instagram.  Nobody is that perfect!

As time went on, I started to feel sorry for Tina.  I think Ronan Hannon knew exactly what he was doing when he started his affair with co-worker Tina and when he'd had his fun he couldn't drop her fast enough, leaving her not only devastated but in a very difficult position at work.

Tina wasn't Ronan's first affair and Sorcha has had enough but she has her 'Sisterhood' to support her as she goes through her divorce.  My feelings for Sorcha Hannon ebbed and flowed like the tide; I felt sorry for her as the wronged wife but I struggled to see the real Sorcha beneath her perfect persona.  

Filled with suspense and intrigue, The Affair is quite a nail-biter as nobody is showing their true colours.  I really enjoyed it and think it's well worth a read.

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

My rating:

Purchase link: https://mybook.to/theaffairsocial

About the author:

Claire Allan is a bestselling author of psychological thrillers and, in the past, women's fiction.

A former reporter with the Derry Journal, she published eight contemporary women's fiction novels with Poolbeg Press in Ireland before becoming a full time author, and switching genre to 'unleash her darker side'

Her first domestic noir novel, Her Name Was Rose was published by Avon/ HarperCollins in 2018 and was an instant bestseller in several countries. Claire's novels have been translated into multiple languages.

Latterly. Claire worked as a story consultant on series one of the huge successful BBC drama series 'Blue Lights' with Two Cities Productions. She has also written a number of rom-coms under the pen-name Freya Kennedy, and supported Sunday Times Bestseller Serena Terry while she was writing her Mammy Banter titles.

In 2023 Claire signed a multi-book deal with Boldwood Books to write four thrillers as Claire Allan, and three rom-coms as Freya Kennedy, securing her publishing into 2026.

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClaireAllan 

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

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

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/claire-allan 

Follow the tour:

The Widow's Choice - Nancy Revell

1949, County Durham.

From the Shipyards of Sunderland to Lady of the Manor . . .

When Angie marries her sweetheart Quentin and moves into Cuthford Manor to begin their new life together, she feels like the luckiest woman in the world.

But Quentin falls victim to a tragic accident and Angie's life is left devastated. Now, along with the prospect of rebuilding her life, she is faced with an impossible choice that will have far-reaching consequences for herself and those she loves most.

Angie will need to draw on the help of her family, the community of Cuthford Manor and her old friends from the shipyards if she's to find happiness again.

 

What did I think?

I've wanted to read one of Nancy Revell's novels in The Shipyards Girls series since I realised they were set locally in Sunderland and I finally have a Nancy Revell novel in my hands in the form of The Widow's Choice.  There are 12 books in the series that finished in 2022 but The Widow's Choice revisits some of the main characters so fans of the series could see what happens next and new readers would be tempted to see what happened earlier.  

Although the characters are new to me I felt as if I'd known them for years.  I felt Angie's pain at her devastating loss and could totally understand why she wanted to make a new start but memories are more than bricks and mortar.  Luckily, she has her shipyard girls around her to support her through her difficult time.

Angie may be the mistress of Cuthford Manor but it's a title that she doesn't feel she is entitled to and this isn't helped by her devious mother in law who is determined to get her hands on the manor for herself.  There are secrets aplenty to discover in this engaging family saga and I was surprised to find myself researching some true stories that I had never heard of before.

Heartbreaking, heartwarming and completely uplifting, The Widow's Choice has it all: strong female characters, devastating family secrets and a bucketful of emotions.  I am now more than tempted to read The Shipyard Girls series, in fact I feel compelled to do so after encountering these colourful characters for the first time in The Widow's Choice.  

I received a paperback copy for the Tandem Collective readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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