BLOG TOUR: Love, Grief & More Sex Than Pinot (Soho Summers Series Book 1) - Sacha Hughes

Soho’s life was perfect, until it wasn’t.

The youngest of three girls, growing up on the Essex coast, she had love and laughter… until her mum lost her battle with cancer.

At 24, grief hit hard. With pinot grigio as her go-to painkiller and the belief that only Mr Right can fix her broken heart, Soho dives headfirst into love’s messiest lessons.

With her recruitment career in London a comical shit-show, Soho’s nights with her five best friends, the Wino Worms, are fuelled by cocaine, cocktails, and chaos. Hundreds of men later, hope never lasts past hangovers and sunrise.

That is, until a disastrous bedroom incident sparks a painful journey of healing she’s been running from. But not for long! Enter Warren Williams: the irresistible Aussie with endless champagne and sweet nothings. Could he be the Mr Right she’s been chasing all along? She’s not ready… Or is she?

Full of heartbreak, hilarity, and a hint of redemption, Love, Grief & More Sex Than Pinot is a gloriously human, raw, and riotous journey through love, loss, and learning that the only person who can save you… is you.

 

What did I think?

Wow!  What an amazing debut novel from Sacha Hughes!  I expected to like Love, Grief & More Sex Than Pinot, which is why I chose to read it, but I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVED IT!!!

Soho Summers is such a realistic and relatable character.  The 28-year-old has been searching for her very own Mr Right but every one she picks turns out to be Mr Very Wrong.  Summer may laugh off all of her dating nightmares in front of her friends but it really stings when her friends return to their partners and Soho goes home alone to her cute cat Pickle.

When Soho's mother dies she spirals dangerously out of control with a cocktail of drink, drugs and sex but she continues to tell her friends and family that she's 'fine'.  Isn't that so true?  We use 'I'm fine' so often that it almost has the opposite meaning to what it should convey.  Now, I would like to say that I couldn't put this book down but I had to at the end of a couple of chapters to gather my emotions as it is heartbreaking reading at times.  Soho's grief is palpable and I just wanted to reach into the book and give her a massive hug.

I've seen readers talking about book hangovers before but I had never had one...until now.  I didn't want the book to end and I'm already looking forward to the next one.  There's a sneaky peak of book two in the back of the book and I don't usually read these excerpts but I just had to see what was next in store for Soho.  I can't wait for more!!

Entertaining, laugh out loud hilarious and incredibly poignant, Love, Grief & More Sex Than Pinot made me laugh and cry so have your hankies at the ready when you read it.  It's an unmissable and unforgettable emotional rollercoaster of a rom-com and an easy five stars.

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the Online Book Review Tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Castles, Crime & Cake: A Policeman's Accidental Guide to History - John Donoghue

From Police Officer to Medieval Castle Guide… via Britain’s Most Curious Crimes

It started with cake—as most good stories do. Then came the discovery that it’s illegal to chat to the postman for too long, and a spark was ignited.

What followed was a mad quest to break Britain’s strangest laws, spiralling out of control until I hit rock bottom: telling the woman from British Gas I got my energy from bananas.

Dejected, I wandered into a castle, was offered a job, and soon found myself learning that the ideal position in the Middle Ages involved doing a jump, a fart, and a whistle every Christmas. Then, amongst other things, came a monkey ghost, two-fingered gestures, and a knight to remember.

Eventually, I was leading unsuspecting visitors on my own irreverent guided tour of a magnificent medieval castle… and now you can come too!

The past was never this much fun—or this illegal.

 

What did I think?

Castles, Crime & Cake is one of the funniest books I have ever read and I say 'one of' on purpose as the last time I read a book this funny it was written by none other than John Donoghue.  

In this book, John has left the police force and moved down south but he's at a bit of a loose end.  After giving a talk to the local WI about what he learned in the police, John decides to see how many archaic laws he can break.  I know we have some bonkers laws still in place and it was fascinating to read a fantastic selection of them.  To be fair, John could have probably written a whole book about them but the best is yet to come in this hilarious book as the reader is taken on a whistlestop British history tour.

Why history? I hear you ask.  Well John has been successful in his application to become a caste guide - it was the unique CV that did it, I'm sure!  I do love history (not so much at school as there's only so many hours you can study the Industrial Revolution and the Spinning Jenny) so I positively gobbled up these chapters, only stopping to wipe my eyes from the tears of laughter running down my face. 

I defy anyone not to chuckle, laugh or guffaw whilst reading Castles, Crime & Cake; I made the mistake of reading in bed and I had the bed shaking as I tried (unsuccessfully, I might add) to contain my laughter so I didn't wake up my other half.  I'm so glad I didn't drink a cuppa whilst reading as I would've been showered in tea.

Hilarious, entertaining and informative, Castles, Crime & Cake is a fantastic memoir that I will be recommending for a very long time (along with John's other books).  The book should come with a warning that it is likely to cause uncontrollable laughter so be careful where and when you read it.  An easy and well-deserved five stars.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon

About the author:

John Donoghue has served Queen, King, and Country over forty years in the Royal Navy, British Army, and Police. These days, he’s swapped handcuffs for heraldry as a guide at a medieval castle. He also has a dog, Monty, who’s yet to break any known laws, but has taken on the role of farting jester perfectly.

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BLOG TOUR: A Christmas Caroline - K.L. Crear

Caroline’s got frugality down to a fine art. She can make a tin of soup stretch for days, considers “reduced to clear” her love language, and thinks Christmas is just a daft excuse for people to throw their money away on tinsel trimmed tat. 

 

But Christmas Eve night takes a turn when her best mate, Marlene, drops in for a chat. Lovely, right? Except Marlene’s been dead for seven years and she’s got a message for Caroline, she will be visited by three spirits and if she doesn’t pay attention, her future’s looking bleaker than the contents of her fridge freezer. 

 

Caroline’s convinced she’s having a hallucination. Ghosts? Surely not! But as the night goes on, she starts to wonder if she might just learn something worth more than her latest discount voucher. And for someone who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing, this might be the wake-up call she didn’t see coming. 

 

Move over Ebenezer! This modern, laugh-out-loud retelling of the Dickens classic has a new Scrooge in town. Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella. 

What did I think?

A Christmas Caroline is a fun festive read and it's a fresh, modern twist on a Christmas Classic.  I really enjoyed it and at just 161 pages it's short enough to read again every festive season.

I thought I was frugal but Caroline makes me look frivolous!  Her penny pinching is hilarious and I laughed out loud so many times as I was reading.  On the flip side of the coin though, it made me think of people who really don't have two pennies to rub together and how difficult it must be to worry about where your next meal is coming from nevermind paying any bills.

I loved the retelling of A Christmas Carol and the quirky characters that K.L. Crear has imagined in place of Scrooge, Marley et al.  With the same thought-provoking messages running through the prose, it's a fun and faithful nod to the original book.

Hilarious, entertaining and evocative, I defy anyone not to laugh when reading A Christmas Caroline.  I like to read the Dickens' classic over the festive period but I'm going to add A Christmas Caroline to my festive repeat reading list.  It's a real Christmas Cracker and not to be missed.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the author:

Karen (K.L. Crear) is an author, over-sharer, and walking cautionary tale. Think: a sweary teenager trapped in the body of a menopausal woman who can’t sneeze without risking a wardrobe malfunction. You’re welcome.

Once upon a time, she worked in banking, the Civil Service, and property management, or as she likes to call it, The Beige Trilogy. She spent decades being respectable (ish), responsible (occasionally), and quietly losing the will to live. Then one day she found herself broke, baffled, and built entirely out of biscuit crumbs and unresolved trauma. So she did what any sensible woman would do, she wrote it all down and flogged it in paperback.

Karen has battled cancer twice, and her coping strategy was to laugh at wildly inappropriate moments and shout “F*ck off!” at inspirational quotes. Spoiler: it worked. Her sense of humour is deeply questionable, but it’s kept her just about sane through grief, illness, love, lies, and the time she gave herself food poisoning with a dodgy prawn ring from Iceland.

After years of procrastination (and one too many vinos), she finally swapped Pinot for a pen. She now writes jaw-dropping memoirs and hilarious women’s fiction about women who’ve had enough, snapped slightly, and are thriving in spite of it all, usually with a glass in hand, some top mates, and a solid alibi.

Her hobbies include eating anything wrapped in pastry, shouting at the Real Housewives (“She’s definitely had something done - she’s melting!”), and threatening to adopt an axolotl because they look so absurdly cheerful. She once turned down hugging a sloth in Mexico, it dangles upside down, pees on itself, and honestly felt like a warning from the future.

Karen lives in a sleepy Northern town with her long-suffering husband (he’s partially deaf, which helps) and their cat Pickle, who looks permanently disgusted with their life choices and the ongoing Dreamies rationing.

A portion of every book sale goes to Women’s Aid, Great Ormond Street, the Epilepsy Society, and Macmillan. because she knows what it’s like to need help. The world’s a shitshow, but we can all make a little difference in our own way.

Social Media Links

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

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

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@klcrear_author

Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/K-L-Crear/author/B0BTZ22HBD

Website: https://www.klcrear.com

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BLOG TOUR: The Attraction Abacus - Evelyn G. Foster

The Attraction Abacus. A dating agency with a difference.

Everything about you summarised as a single score.

Age, looks, intelligence, wealth — the Abacus counts it all.

When doom-dreaming author, Evelyn Foster, accepts an Attraction Abacus flyer from Luke, her world changes overnight. Could Luke be the right guy for Evelyn, and can she help the Abacus become the next global dating agency sensation?

The Abacus owner has a little secret of his own that might disrupt Evelyn's plans.

For fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope, a new, feel-good romantic comedy where love must triumph over adversity and total incompetence.

What’s your number?

 

What did I think?

I rather enjoyed reading The Attraction Abacus, although it wasn't quite what I was expecting (I wanted to know more about the actual attraction abacus) as it's more of a fun and entertaining love story.  I really loved the style of writing; it has a bit of a Bridget Jones feel as the author talks to the reader throughout the book.

I liked Evelyn and think she is very brave to leave a secure, albeit hated, job to join a start-up business.  Sometimes you just have to take a leap and I applauded Evelyn for taking a chance on the Attraction Abacus after Luke hands her a flyer in the street.  

The Attraction Abacus agency is something different in the world of dating where it gives everyone a score.  It's quite thought-provoking as we are so much more than a number but it's also really difficult to meet your other half these days.  I personally don't like the idea of being graded but that's easy for me to say, sitting here secure and happy in my long-term relationship.

The attraction between Evelyn and Luke is clear to see from the start but Luke has a girlfriend and she isn't going to give him up without a fight.  Let the battle commence!  I enjoyed the game playing and one-upmanship - it's entertaining and funny and I bet Luke secretly loved two women fighting over him.

Fun, flirty and very entertaining, The Attraction Abacus is a very enjoyable rom-com and well worth a read.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Foyles

Amazon

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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:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: A Billionaire for Christmas - Jo Lyons

When talented chef Molly's best friend and business partner, Ava, passes away, she leaves Molly their beloved restaurant – and a wild, impossible bucket list to complete. But thanks to a legal mix-up, Molly's inheritance is at risk unless she ticks off every outrageous item before the Christmas Eve deadline: just twelve days away.

Determined to honour Ava's wishes and desperate to save her dream, Molly searches for a billionaire willing to share Champagne with her in a hot tub – one of the more extravagant challenges on the bucket list. She's in a luxurious ski resort in the French Alps so it might just be doable. But then she meets Levi. A devastatingly handsome billionaire, yes, but infuriatingly resistant to getting involved!

As the snow falls and sparks fly, Molly is entangled in a series of increasingly embarrassing escapades. With time running out, can she pull off the impossible – and maybe even find love along the way?

Hot enough to melt the Alpine snow, this romantic comedy is perfect for fans of Portia MacIntosh, Olivia Spring and Sophie Kinsella.

 

What did I think?

Well this fabulous book has certainly got me in the festive spirit!  It also got my pulse racing, but more about that in a moment.  Jo Lyons writes the funniest romantic comedy books and A Billionaire for Christmas is an absolute Christmas cracker!  It is almost impossible not to laugh out loud when you're reading it.

I adored the main character of Molly who is going to lose her restaurant if she doesn't complete the bucket list left by her late business partner.  In order to inherit the restaurant, Molly has to tick of the funniest, most daring and completely outrageous set of tasks that Ava has left her.  Even more daunting, Molly only has a few days left to do it in - eek!

Although Ava's untimely death is very sad, the rest of the story is hilarious and I couldn't read fast enough to see which item Molly would attempt next.  The task that most eludes her is the one that got my pulse racing as there is so much chemistry between Molly and billionaire businessman Levi.  With misunderstandings, sizzling passions and the inevitable will they/won't they, this is a fabulous romance story with a lot of laughs.

Funny, flirty and festive, A Billionaire for Christmas is a fabulous romcom from a fantastic author who really knows how to tickle my funny bone.  This is the book you want to find in your Christmas stocking this year - 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 link: https://mybook.to/BillionaireChristmas

About the author:

Jo Lyons is the bestselling author of six novels and was shortlisted for the prestigious Comedy Women in Print Awards in 2021. She spent years working abroad in sunny destinations like Turkey, Spain and the south of France at a vineyard (trying her best not to drink them out of business). Jo writes uplifting, laugh-out-loud, warm-hearted romantic comedies, including Girls Just Want to Have Sun.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: @JoLyons

Twitter: @J0Lyons

Instagram: @hinnywhowrites

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

Bookbub profile: @joannalyons

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BLOG TOUR: The Awful Truth About The Sushing Prize (The Awful Truth Book 2) - Marco Ocram

Should I tell him about Sushing or play dumb?

Sticking in my comfort zone, I played dumb.

Writer Marco Ocram has a secret superpower—whatever he writes actually happens, there and then. Hoping to win the million-dollar Sushing Prize, he uses his powers to write a true-crime thriller, quickly discovering a freakish murder. But Marco has a major problem—he's a total idiot who can't see beyond his next sentence. Losing control of his plot and his characters, and breaking all the rules of fiction, Marco writes himself into every kind of trouble, until only the world's most incredible ending can save his bacon.

Fast, funny, and utterly different, welcome to the weird world of The Awful Truth.

 

What did I think?

Well I can definitely say that I've never read a book quite like this before!  It's a story that is being written as if in real time so there are plot holes and dead ends that the author must find his way out of in often very amusing ways.  This is book two in The Awful Truth series and it works really well as a standalone but I do think I would have benefitted from reading book one beforehand.

The author (the real one, Denis Shaughnessy not the fictional Marco Ocram) is very astute and has highlighted several writing habits that I had never even noticed before.  Of course the next book I read after this one just had to mention that the vehicle had tinted windows and I nearly fell off my seat laughing.   

I think this is a book that deserves a second reading as I probably missed a lot of the more subtle nods at writing styles and crime fiction tropes.  I say 'nods' as although it might seem like a dig at first, it's not done nastily and it's all true anyway.  After the tinted windows thing, I'm sure to spot many more things that Marco Ocram has pointed out.

Sharp, witty and totally bonkers, The Awful Truth About the Sushing Prize is a unique and imaginative crime spoof that is incredibly entertaining and completely unforgettable.  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/sushingprize-zbt

About the author:

Denis Shaughnessy is the author of the mold-breaking Awful Truth series, published under the name Marco Ocram. His books, which break all of the rules of fiction, have been described as ‘a dazzling tour de force', 'mind-bending’, 'wildly inventive', 'an entirely new type of narrative' and 'utterly unique’. He has won two CIBA first prizes for Humor and Satire and was shortlisted for the prestigious Thurber Prize. He has a PhD in quantum theory and lives on a small-holding in the New Forest. He is currently working on a middle-grade novel featuring a junior Marco Ocram.

Denis’ Social Media

Twitter: https://x.com/denishaughnessy

Website: https://www.theawfulauthor.com/

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Glorious Exploits - Ferdia Lennon

Ancient Sicily. Enter GELON: visionary, dreamer, theatre lover. Enter LAMPO: lovesick, jobless, in need of a distraction.

Imprisoned in the quarries of Syracuse, thousands of defeated Athenians hang on by the thinnest of threads.

They’re fading in the baking heat, but not everything is lost: they can still recite lines from Greek tragedy when tempted by Lampo and Gelon with goatskins of wine and scraps of food.

And so an idea is born. Because, after all, you can hate the invaders but still love their poetry.

It’s audacious. It might even be dangerous. But like all the best things in life – love, friendship, art itself – it will reveal the very worst, and the very best, of what humans are capable of.

What could possibly go wrong?

 

What did I think?

Wow!  Glorious Exploits has to be one of the most original and brilliant debuts I have ever read.  It's like nothing I have read before nor expect to read again and I absolutely loved it.

The quarries are home to prisoners of war from Athens and if they don't starve to death they will be baked alive by the sun.  Syracusians Gelon and his friend Lampo come up with a get rich quick scheme to put on a play starring the Athenians, if they survive long enough to perform.  What follows is a heartwarming tale of humanity with a comedic edge that had me rooting for the characters and chuckling at their escapades.

It's almost impossible to describe this book.  It's almost a retelling of Greek myth in the style of Monty Python with an Irish slant.  It also feels like an homage to a few of my favourite comedies.  Imagine the Life of Brian with Del Boy and Rodney mixed with Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer and a bit of Father Ted.  There is a lot of subtle humour and I couldn't help but laugh out loud on a few occasions.

Highly original, humourous and heartfelt, Glorious Exploits is a magnificent debut and a veritable feast for the eyes.  I devoured it and loved every minute of it.  An easy five stars and a highly recommended read. 

Glorious Exploits is longlisted for Swansea University's Dylan Thomas Prize with the shortlist to be announced on 20th March.  Good luck to Ferdia Lennon - I have my fingers crossed that I have read the winning book.

I received a gifted ARC to celebrate the Dylan Thomas Prize longlist and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

Benidorm Cocktail Hour (The Benidorm Series Book 3) - Jo Lyons

Benidorm Cocktail Hour is the third book in The Benidorm Series. Follow Connie and The Dollz as they ‘do’ Las Vegas.

Connie attempts to juggle her romantic break with an over-the-top stag do, an increasingly heavy workload, and a case of unrequited love. With Ged and Liam turning into major bridezillas, Connie struggles to keep up with their incessant demands for forced enjoyment and their obsessive hunt for A-List celebrities. When The Dollz ramp up their reckless behaviour, Connie finds herself on the receiving end of some disgruntled local mobsters and an accidental wedding that should never have taken place.

Amid the chaos, will her and Matteo’s love ever find a way? Only one thing is for sure - what happens in Vegas, MUST stay in Vegas…

 

What did I think?

I have absolutely loved all of the books in the Benidorm series but I think Benidrom Cocktail Hour has to be my favourite as it didn't just make me cry with laughter, I also cried happy tears.

I love Connie and The Dollz, as well as Ged and Liam, and their hilarious escapades, so I raced straight onto the virtual Las Vegas flight after finishing book 2, Bendorm again.  Connie was hoping for a romantic getaway with Matteo but her trip has snowballed into including Ged and Liam's pre-moon and a gig with The Dollz.  There's also an unwelcome face on the same flight...

Oh Connie, she does get herself into some scrapes but with friends like The Dollz there's always someone there who has her back.  The Dollz are proper Geordie lasses who drink until they throw up (or fall asleep) and then start again!  Las Vegas won't know what's hit them when these crazy ladies descend on the Strip.

Benidorm Cocktail Hour is one of the funniest yet heartwarming books I have ever read.  It really should have waterproof pages though; I almost spat my cuppa out laughing from the start and I struggled to hold in my happy tears towards the end - that's how much I love these characters!  Jo Lyons never fails to make me laugh and with lots of laughs and plenty of romance, Benidorm Cocktail Hour is the perfect romantic comedy.

Many thanks to the author for a gifted copy to read and review; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

BLOG TOUR: A Bonsai Tree Called Geoff - John Donoghue

Is he the best cop on the streets?... No.

 

But does he go to work with a positive attitude and put 100% into every incident he attends?... Also No.

 

What he does is write about the funny, unusual, and bizarre jobs he goes to.

 

From arresting a bride at her own wedding, an Aztec style sacrifice, subversion in the ranks, a naked dog thief, an accidental kidnapping, disappointing a nun… these are true tales from the front line of policing, where fact is often stranger than fiction!

 

These are the tales he probably shouldn’t share.

 

What did I think?

You know that kind of wheezing laugh you get when something is just TOO funny?  Well that's what happened to me when I was reading A Bonsai Tree Called Geoff.  This is easily the funniest book I've ever read and what's even more funny is that each chapter is based on a true story.  

We've all had funny things happen to us in work that made us think "you couldn't write it" well John Donoghue has done just that.  Thank goodness he's saved up all of these hilarious stories from his time in the police force and decided to share them with us.  The tales are so funny and bizarre that you really couldn't make them up and I think it makes them even funnier knowing that these things actually happened.

There's a lot of toilet humour in the book and it's all the better for it!  I laughed, chortled, sniggered, belly-laughed and guffawed my way through it and I wouldn't have been surprised to find that I'd laughed so much my sides had split.  Honestly, this book is SO funny that my other half thought I was hyperventilating but I was just laughing ultrasonically.

I would usually say don't read A Bonsai Tree Called Geoff in a public place as you will definitely laugh out loud, however, the more people that know about this book the better - we could all do with a good laugh.  My only disappointment was when I finished the book but I was delighted to find that John Donoghue has a number of books in his back catalogue to keep me entertained while he's writing his next one.

Hilarious don't quite cover it when describing A Bonsai Tree Called Geoff; it's ultra-hilarious and completely unmissable.  Anyone with half a sense of humour will absolutely love this cracking book; I've never laughed so much.  Very highly recommended - buy one for yourself and all of your friends and give your laughing muscles a good workout.

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 Amazon

About the author:

Having served Queen, King & Country over 40 years in the military and Police, John Donoghue has also been awarded the Chief Constable’s Commendation for Bravery after saving a family of seven (and their dog and cat) from a house fire one Christmas Eve… and routinely been castigated for telling it like it is.

His previous police memoirs include:

Police, Crime & 999

Police, Lies & Alibis

Police, Arrests & Suspects

He has also previously written a humorous book about his military service and travels with his dog around the funny places in Great Britain – described as “Bill Bryson on Magic Mushrooms” when it first came out, it has now been updated and republished as ‘Tails of the Unexpected.’

 

He says: “I am also a public speaker, conducting tongue in cheek presentations about the ‘Ten Life Lessons I’ve learnt in the Police’, and conduct medieval tours in my spare time.”

 

He also enjoys an X (Twitter) following of over 65k - @johndonoghue64

Website: www.policecrime999.com 

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Cat Society - Ray Sadri

Cat Society is a witty and bonkers story of life and politics in Westminster – reimagining the debates, events and headlines of recent years had the world been run by cats. A lot changes. A lot doesn’t.

The country is on the brink of bankruptcy, and backbencher Douglas Schnitty is disappointed with the thousands of homeless cats sleeping by the bins. He gets frustrated with higher powers who only seem to care about their own interests and preserving the country’s finances.

He schmoozes and sabotages his way through the political elite, from assisting the bombastic Hector Perp Pahpousson to disrupting the plans of the Prime Minister. Can his conscience save him, and the slum cats, as events spiral out of control?

***

The Westminster Cats are here! And if you like cats and politics with a dose of humour, this comic novel is for you. Check out the reviews:

“I’m sure most cat owners have looked over at their sometimes mysterious, scheming-looking furry friend and at some point quietly wondered whether they’re planning on taking over the world. This “claws out” paw-litical drama takes that idea and runs with it. From how the Government spends its British Mews and interacts with journalists at The Meowington Times, to its rocky relationship with the Global Cats Alliance, it’s a hilarious and somewhat realistic insight into what life could look like if our beloved felines did take the reins.”

 

What did I think?

With the way that people pander to their dogs, I've always said that dogs will be our overlords one day, but maybe it's the cats that are biding their time.  In this hugely entertaining and ingenious novel, Ray Sadri imagines what would happen if the cats were in charge.

You would think it was all highly imaginative fiction but, rather embarrassingly for us Brits, the plot is inspired by some true stories.  Who could ever forget Labour's plans to pledge £300,000 to pay 10,000 new police officers a salary of £30 per annum?  I'm not a great fan of politics but I love the way that Ray Sadri has taken some real events and made them more entertaining by amplifying, or perhaps just highlighting, the absolutely craziness of our politicians.

While the country is overrun with homeless cats, politicians feast on fountains of cream, sleep for 18 hours a day and love their gold décor as much as Donald Trump.  The backbenchers are crying out for the Prime Minister to take action but she has a lot on her plate with backstabbing and treachery afoot, as well as an underhand plan to topple the PM and take Britain out of the Global Cats Alliance.

Amusing, entertaining and very insightful, Cat Society is a tongue-in-cheek look at politics over the last few years and I'm not sure whether the book or the true story is more bonkers.

Many thanks to the author for sending me a copy to read and review; and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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