Thursday, April 24, 2025

My Review for Burying Jericho by William Hussey (Scott Jericho #3)

April 24, 2025  , , , ,  No comments


'An innocent soul, walled up and forgotten'.

Burying Jericho is the third book in the Scott Jericho series, and it's by far and away the best! I loved everything about it. With each book I read, I'm learning more and more about the fairgrounds, the people who live and work there and the mysticism that often surrounds them.

The stories in this instalment just build and build, both with the disappearance of the young lad that Scott is searching for, and the mystery that Harry is looking into. I can't say too much about anything, you'll not hear any spoilers from me. Suffice to say that I was hooked, and along with the million and one curveballs that the author threw us and guessing (incorrectly) who the culprit(s) were, my mind was in turmoil. As I turned the last page, I felt like I had questioned every witness and fought every psychological battle that Scott did. I am excited to see what is next for 'the Great Showman Detective'.

Thank you to Zaffre books for the gifted copy of Burying Jericho by William Hussey.

About the Book

While Scott Jericho is tasked with investigating the most baffling case of his career, his partner Harry is set upon his own fateful path.

In a rundown seaside town, a young man has vanished without a trace. Jericho's investigation of this disappearance will unravel a diabolical plot and expose a secret long buried. A secret hinted at by the paper men hanging from the trees in a nearby wood, by the ravings of the local 'wise woman', and by the eerie waxworks of a defunct fairground attraction.

As fates collide and an impossible murder is executed, a twisted killer from the past is closing in on Harry and Jericho. But is it already too late for Jericho to save himself and the man he loves?


About William

William Hussey is the award-winning author of over a dozen novels, including the Crime Fest award-nominated Hideous Beauty and The Outrage. Born the son of a travelling showman, he has spent a lifetime absorbing the history, folklore and culture of fairground people, knowledge he has now put to work in his Scott Jericho thrillers.

William lives in the seaside town of Skegness with his faithful dog Bucky and a vivid imagination.




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Monday, April 21, 2025

My Review for Jericho's Dead by William Hussey (Scott Jericho #2)

April 21, 2025  , , , ,  No comments


Scott Jericho is back!

I'm loving this series, as I write this review for the second book, I am well on my way to finishing the third. Scott Jericho just can't sit back and forget his past, all he wants is to be in the thick of an investigation and this time, he really is, slap, bang in the middle. Can he discover who the killer or killers are before too many more people get murdered?

The book isn't all brutal murders and searching for the bad guys, there is an emotional side to it too. In the first book, Scott hooks up with his old flame, Harry, and in Jericho's Dead, they are still together - sort of. Scott doesn't seem the most stable of men in his relationships, so will they stay together, you'll have to read this to find out. Miscommunication is a huge issue between these two and many a time, I found myself muttering in despair - just talk to each other for heaven's sake!

If you love a good murder mystery, with some pretty squeamish bits, then please check out this series. It's fast becoming my new favourite. Oh, and once again, I didn't work it out until right at the very end!

Thank you to Zaffre books for the gifted copy of Jericho's Dead by William Hussey.


About the Book


Former CID detective Scott Jericho is done with murder. Done with puzzles. Done with the dark rage that seems to haunt him.

That is until a vicious serial killer targets someone close to him.

Now Jericho is back, his thirst for justice remorseless.

But time is running out. Fortune tellers and psychics are being slaughtered and everything points to a link with a live TV event due to be broadcast on Halloween night. But what is the significance of the macabre wax effigies found at every crime scene? Why is celebrity psychic Darrel Everwood convinced he will die in four days time? And is Jericho's lover Harry really involved in the murders?

As a startling truth is revealed and an old enemy re-emerges, a murder beyond imagining is about to be come the media event of the century...


About William

William Hussey is the award-winning author of over a dozen novels, including the Crime Fest award-nominated Hideous Beauty and The Outrage. Born the son of a travelling showman, he has spent a lifetime absorbing the history, folklore and culture of fairground people, knowledge he has now put to work in his Scott Jericho thrillers.

William lives in the seaside town of Skegness with his faithful dog Bucky and a vivid imagination.




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My Review for Killing Jericho by William Hussey (Scott Jericho #1)

April 21, 2025  , , , ,  No comments


A fantastic start to a new series.

I had absolutely no idea what to expect when I began to read Killing Jericho, those of you who read my reviews regularly will know that I rarely read the synopsis, where would be the fun in that? 😂

Scott Jericho is a former police officer who is having trouble letting go of his detective roots, so when horrendous murders begin to occur, then who better to investigate them. I really enjoyed the weird way in which these victims had been murdered - that sounds wrong, doesn't it? Let's just say the story kept me entertained, 🙈 and I had absolutely no idea who the murderer was until the reveal - well played there to the author. I loved the side story of the fair, where Scott lived much of his childhood. It was fun and interesting to read about what happens behind the scenes in a fairground and the hard work that so obviously goes into moving sites and setting up regularly. I was briefly taken back to Mr Galliano's Circus by Enid Blyton, which I read as a kid, and listened to more recently. Jodie and Sal are awesome, and I was so glad that Scott had someone looking out for him, especially in his darker days. 

I've already read the next book in the series, Jericho's Dead, and my review for that one will be coming soon. 

Thank you to Zaffre Books for the gifted copy of Killing Jericho by William Hussey.

About the Book

Murder this twisted demands a new kind of detective

Fresh out of prison, former Detective Constable Scott Jericho is a desperate man.

Disgraced and penniless after his assault on a violent suspect, he is forced to seek refuge with the fairground family he once rejected. Now, troubled by his failure, Jericho’s brilliant mind stagnates.

That is until a series of bizarre murders reawaken his interest. Men and women with no obvious link to each other are being ritualistically slaughtered.

Slaughtered in ways that recall an old legend of the Jericho Travelling Fair.

Now, in a race against time, he must unpick the threads of a baffling mystery. But as his investigation unfolds and the corpses pile up, a shocking truth awaits him. A revelation that will test not only Jericho’s intellect but challenge the very core of his morality...

About William

William Hussey is the award-winning author of over a dozen novels, including the Crime Fest award-nominated Hideous Beauty and The Outrage. Born the son of a travelling showman, he has spent a lifetime absorbing the history, folklore and culture of fairground people, knowledge he has now put to work in his Scott Jericho thrillers.

William lives in the seaside town of Skegness with his faithful dog Bucky and a vivid imagination.




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Sunday, April 20, 2025

My Review for To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

April 20, 2025  , ,  No comments


"Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."

I was pretty sure that I'd read To Kill a Mockingbird when I was younger, but when I started to read it for April's choice of the month for #classiclitbookclub. I'm not actually sure that I have. 

For me, it was very much a coming-of-age story, told through the eyes of Scout, an eight-year-old girl who lives alone with her father and older brother. Along with Scout and her brother Jem's perception of life in a small town in the 1930s, I enjoyed reading and learning more about the prejudice and discrimination that existed between black and white people, as well as richer and poorer.  Their Dad, Atticus, has incredibly high morals, treating everyone equally and attempting to teach his children to be the same. 

The story jumped from situation to situation and from person to person. It was an interesting read as one minute we are wondering just who Boo Radley is, and another moment we are in court with Atticus as he's defending a black man against a white woman. I particularly enjoyed the lighthearted moments as Scout, Jem and their friend Dill, were just kids, doing what kids do and having fun. 

I still have no idea whether I've read this before, but I will be reading - or maybe listening next time - again. 

About the Book

"Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."

A lawyer's advice to his children as he defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee's classic novel - a black man charged with the rape of a white girl. Through the young eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores with exuberant humour the irrationality of adult attitudes to race and class in the Deep South of the 1930s. The conscience of a town steeped in prejudice, violence and hypocrisy is pricked by the stamina of one man's struggle for justice. But the weight of history will only tolerate so much.

"To Kill A Mockingbird" became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into an Academy Award-winning film.


About Harper

Harper Lee was born in 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama. She attended Huntingdon College and studied law at the University of Alabama. She is the author of the acclaimed To Kill a Mockingbird, and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and numerous other literary awards and honours. She died on 19 February 2016.





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Thursday, April 17, 2025

My Review for The Enemy by Sarah Adams, read by Connie Shabshab and Will Damon

April 17, 2025  , , , ,  No comments


When feuding becomes loving.

I listened to The Enemy immediately after finishing The Match, and enjoyed it almost as much - if only there had been another dog! Evie and Charlie do make the odd appearance, but this one is all about the enemies to lovers story of June and Ryan. After their last meeting, twelve years ago, June is convinced that she hates Ryan, but of course, deep down, she wants the one kiss they experienced together to make another appearance - twelve years later!

The back-and-forth bickering between the two is a fun narrative, there were lots of laugh-out-loud moments, and many more when I just wanted to bang their heads together and lock them in a room! The narrators did a great job with the two main characters, I just love a dual narration, and of course we get our happily ever after - did you expect anything else?

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Libro FM for the opportunity to listen to and review The Enemy by Sarah Adams.

About the Book

Enemies should never get a second chance. But this one might...

It’s been twelve years since I’ve seen him. Twelve years since he won our war of wits by outsmarting me with a tactic I didn’t even know was allowed. But tonight…I resurrect the battle.

Ryan Henderson is back in town for our best friends’ wedding, and I plan on showing him exactly how much I don’t care about him—or the almost kiss he ruthlessly dangled over me after graduation. A lot has changed since our feuding days. I'm a successful bakery owner now, and I plan to rub every delicious detail of my life in his ugly face. Just one problem: his face is gorgeous. He wasn’t supposed to look like this or pursue me like a sexy guided missile. I must stay strong until the wedding is over and Ryan scurries back into whatever alternate universe he escaped from. His interest in me is nothing but a continuation of the games we played in high school...right?

But the longer he stays, the more I wonder if I’m wrong and his tender smile and heated attentions are genuine. Maybe it’s not a game. Ha! Who am I kidding? This is Ryan we’re talking about. Of course it’s a game. A game called war. And this time, I will win.



About Sarah

Born and raised in Nashville TN, Sarah Adams loves her family, warm days, and making people smile. 

Sarah has dreamed of being a writer since she was a girl, but finally wrote her first novel when her daughters were napping and she no longer had any excuses to put it off. 

Sarah is a coffee addict, a British history nerd, a mom of two daughters, married to her best friend, and an indecisive introvert. Her hope is to always write stories that make you laugh, maybe even cry; but always leave you happier than when you started reading.





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Wednesday, April 16, 2025

My Review for How to Fix a Broken Heart by Nicola May

April 16, 2025  , , , ,  No comments

Loved, loved, loved this! 

As I turned the last page, I felt a warm glow, along with the Pretty Woman and Notting Hill vibes. 🥰 Once again I’ve fallen in love with a Nicola May book, and once again she’s blown me away with her sensitivity to a difficult subject. Gracie’s heartbreak is overwhelming at times, but I loved, that along with friends and family, she begins to comes to terms with what’s happened to her and finds away to help the local community with similar stories. 

Leo was awesome, I adored him, his kindness and generosity were just what Gracie needed at a time when her self-esteem was rock bottom and her feelings were all awry. 

There are some very heavy subjects covered in Nicola’s new book, so please, please check the trigger warnings. Personally, I felt that she managed to cover them in a lighthearted yet sympathetic and empathetic manner, whilst creating that hug in a book that the author is so good at. 

Thank you to Storm Publishing and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review How to Fix a Broken Heart by Nicola May.

About the Book

Gracie Davies is at an all-time low. After a devastating loss, the last thing she needs is a colleague hinting over coffee that it’s time to lose her baby weight. Then her boyfriend betrays her, and her world totally falls apart.

Rebuilding her life from scratch – with the support of her free-spirited sister, an unorthodox therapist, and a feisty new friend – Gracie finally begins to get her mojo back. Add in a passionate fling with handsome landscaper Ed, a fairytale encounter with a Hollywood film star and the persistence of her adulterous ex, and life is anything but predictable…

Soon she finds that community, purpose, and perhaps even new love might be the perfect prescription for a broken heart.

But can a heart that’s been so utterly shattered ever trust again?

About Nicola

Nicola May is a bestselling author renowned for her heartwarming and humorous romantic comedies. With eighteen books to her name, her work has captured readers' hearts around the world, has been translated into fifteen languages and consistently ranks in the top 100 of Amazon's Kindle bestseller charts. As a self-published author, she achieved the remarkable feat of reaching number one on Amazon twice, and has been a strong advocate for indie authors, pushing for a dedicated chart for them in The Bookseller magazine. Now signed to Storm Publishing, Nicola continues to write heartfelt rom-coms with her signature blend of warmth and wit. 

When she’s not writing, she enjoys cream teas in her beloved Devon, hikes through nature, and occasionally places a bet on the horses.



















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Tuesday, April 15, 2025

My Review for The Match by Sarah Adams, read by Rusty Mewha and Leanne Woodward

April 15, 2025  , , , , , ,  No comments


Gorgeous dogs and hot, single men!

I adored this book from beginning to end. Evie and Charlie together, wrapped me up in a big warm hug and then Sam and Daisy did it all over again. I loved that Evie was helping to train service dogs and to help others be able to keep their independence. 

It very definitely isn't love at first sight for Evie and Jacob, but slowly and surely they wear each other down, and with a little bit of cajoling from Sam, of course we get our happy ever after.

The audiobook narration was brilliant. Rusty Mewha and Leanne Woodward complemented each other well and an audiobook with great narrators makes for an even better story.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Libro FM for the opportunity to listen to and review The Match by Sarah Adams.

About the Book

Sometimes love finds you when you least expect it.

Evie Jones has dedicated her life and very limited funds working for Southern Service Paws, the company that matched her with the love of her life: Charlie, a service dog trained to assist with her epilepsy. But it’s no secret that the company has been struggling to make ends meet. It’s up to her and her longtime mentor and boss to throw the fundraiser of the century to keep the doors open.

Then, Evie meets Jacob Broaden at a client consultation meeting. There are instant sparks—but not the good kind, because Jacob’s daughter set up the meeting without his knowledge. Ten-year-old Sam has been recently diagnosed with epilepsy and has wanted a service animal ever since. While he has hesitations at first, it doesn’t take long for Jacob to be convinced that a service dog and possibly Evie, with her magical, woodland-green eyes, might just be the best thing for him and his daughter.

As Evie spends more time with Jacob and helps Sam find her perfect match with a lovable golden retriever named Daisy, she starts longing for something she’s never had before—a loving family. For Jacob, falling in love with Evie is the last thing he should be doing, but love has a way of finding those who need it most.


About Sarah

Born and raised in Nashville TN, Sarah Adams loves her family, warm days, and making people smile. 

Sarah has dreamed of being a writer since she was a girl, but finally wrote her first novel when her daughters were napping and she no longer had any excuses to put it off. 

Sarah is a coffee addict, a British history nerd, a mom of two daughters, married to her best friend, and an indecisive introvert. Her hope is to always write stories that make you laugh, maybe even cry; but always leave you happier than when you started reading.




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Monday, April 14, 2025

My Review for Deep End by Ali Hazelwood read by Therese Plummer and Ben Holtzmuller

April 14, 2025  , , , ,  No comments


Another first and another winner.

Once again, I'm late to the party and this is my first Ali Hazelwood book. Listening on a beautiful spring day, whilst pottering in the garden, I had no idea what to expect. I never read the blurb, I had no idea what level of spice 🌶 to expect, I just knew that lots of people love Ali Hazelwood and here was my opportunity to join them. 

I loved the diving side story, I'm in awe of watching divers on TV, they have so much skill, it's incredible. Listening to how Scarlett overcame her injury and her blocker on the dive that caused it had me hooked. Lukas was a very welcome addition to Scarlett's life and as she gradually opens up to him, and him to her, the whole relationship made me all gooey inside! 

This wasn't as spicy as I was expecting, after I'd listened to the disclaimer at the beginning, but it fitted into the story nicely, as both Scarlett and Lukas began to trust and support each other as time went on - both in and out of the bedroom.

I love an audiobook with different narrators for the male and female main characters, and both Therese and Ben did an awesome job with Scarlett and Lukas. I will definitely be adding more of Ali's book to my TBR, and any recommendations are welcome. 

Thank you to PRH Audio and Libro FM for the opportunity to listen to and review Deep End by Ali Hazelwood.


About the Book

Scarlett Vandermeer is swimming upstream. A Junior at Stanford and a student-athlete who specializes in platform diving, Scarlett prefers to keep her head down, concentrating on getting into med school and on recovering from the injury that almost ended her career. She has no time for relationships—at least, that’s what she tells herself.

Swim captain, world champion, all-around aquatics golden boy, Lukas Blomqvist thrives on discipline. It’s how he wins gold medals and breaks records: complete focus, with every stroke. On the surface, Lukas and Scarlett have nothing in common. Until a well-guarded secret slips out, and everything changes.

So they start an arrangement. And as the pressure leading to the Olympics heats up, so does their relationship. It was supposed to be just a temporary, mutually satisfying fling. But when staying away from Lukas becomes impossible, Scarlett realizes that her heart might be treading into dangerous water.


About Ali - by Ali

I’m originally from Italy, lived in Japan and Germany, and eventually moved to the US to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience. I was a professor for about three years, but in 2022 I quit to write full time. When I’m not writing you can find me prowling around AO3, binge-watching shows with my three feline overlords (and my almost equally feline husband), crocheting, or eating candy.

(The name of the dog in the picture is Chica; she is not mine, but I wish she were. Love to Chandra Wicke for the photo, and to Barbara for introducing me to my new bestie.)








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Wednesday, April 9, 2025

My Review for Truly, Madly, Magically by Hazel Beck, read by Natalie Duke

April 09, 2025  , , , ,  No comments

Who doesn't love a witchy book!

How did I not know until I came to write this review - ashamedly I listened to this at the end of September 2024, and I am only now just getting around to the review 🙈 - that it is number three in a series?! Never mind though, I think it can definitely be read as a standalone. I guess you would get the backstory of some of the other characters if you'd read the others, but it didn't take away my enjoyment of the story.

Ellowyn and Xander are the witches who are gonna kick ass, and whether they want to or not, overturning the Joywood coven is next on the list. I loved these two. I loved that they were sworn enemies for 364 days a year, but on just the one day, they get together to scratch the itch! 

This is full of witchy vibes, magic, and great characters. I am adding the others to my TBR right now and checking when the fourth book is out.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio and Libro FM for the opportunity to listen to and review Truly, Madly, Magically by Hazel Beck.


About the Book

A witch cursed to tell the truth, and the man who won’t let her lie to herself anymore… 

Cursed by her own mother to always tell the truth and one of the only half-witches around, Ellowyn Good has never considered herself an equal part of the Riverwood coven. But when the evil ruling coven of the witching world targets her directly, she begins to wonder why they want her gone. 

She’ll need to work with her newly formed coven to survive, which includes dealing with her first love, past wreckage and a whole new complication she didn’t see coming. With their fates in the balance, Ellowyn will have to learn to trust Zander again—or be doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past. Assuming they all survive the Joywood’s latest bid for absolute power over the witching world…


About Hazel

Hazel Beck is the USA TODAY bestselling magical partnership of a river witch and an earth witch. Together they have collected two husbands, three familiars, two children, five degrees, and written around 250 books. As one, their books will delight with breathtaking magic, emotional romance, and stories of witches you won’t soon forget.





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Tuesday, April 8, 2025

My Review for Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey, read by Callie Dalton and Teddy Hamilton

April 08, 2025  , , ,  No comments



A book of firsts for me...

My first ever Tessa Bailey book and my first ever hockey romance!

Teddy Hamilton, aka Xaden Riorson reads the part of Sig Gauthier in Dream Girl Drama, and no, I didn't know this before I started listening, but hey, who doesn't want a bit of Xaden's voice, even if this time he's a professional hockey player and there are absolutely no dragons involved!

I didn't like Chloe at the beginning, was I supposed to? I'm not sure. She grew on me, though. Just as the story progressed and Chloe learned how to be an adult, I began to like her more and more. She was hilarious, growing up, she lived a very privileged life and when she started to find her own way in the world and found out she needed to do her own laundry - that had me laughing out loud!

I enjoyed the air of mystery surrounding whether Sig and Chloe's relationship would be allowed to happen, and I was second-guessing what might happen to allow it to continue.

I'll definitely be reading more Tessa Bailey books. I'm off to add some to my TBR. 

Thank you to Harper Audio and Libro FM for the opportunity to listen to and review Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey.

About the Book

When professional hockey player Sig Gauthier’s car breaks down and his phone dies, he treks into a posh private country club to call a tow truck, where he encounters the alluring Chloe Clifford, the manic pixie dream girl who captivates him immediately with her sense of adventure and penchant for stealing champagne.

Sparks fly during a moonlight kiss and the enamored pair can’t wait to see each other again, but when Sig finally arrives to meet his dad’s new girlfriend over dinner, Chloe is confusingly also there. Turns out the girlfriend is Chloe’s mother. Oh, and they’re engaged.

Sig’s dream girl is his future stepsister.

Though the pair is now wary of being involved romantically, Chloe, a sheltered harp prodigy, yearns to escape her controlling mother. Sig promises to teach her the ins and outs of independence in Boston—but not inside his bedroom. They both know there can never be more than friendship between a famous hockey player and his high-society, soon-to-be stepsister. But keeping their relationship platonic grows harder amid the developing family drama, especially knowing they were meant for so much more…


About Tessa

New York Times Bestselling author Tessa Bailey can solve all problems except for her own, so she focuses those efforts on stubborn, fictional blue collar men and loyal, lovable heroines. She lives on Long Island avoiding the sun and social interactions, then wonders why no one has called. Dubbed the “Michelangelo of dirty talk,” by Entertainment Weekly, Tessa writes with spice, spirit, swoon and a guaranteed happily ever after. Catch her on TikTok at @authortessabailey or check out tessabailey.com for a complete list of books.





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Monday, April 7, 2025

My Review for It's Getting Hot in Here by Jane Costello, read by Marisa Calin

April 07, 2025  , , , , ,  No comments



So relatable to women of a certain age!

Lisa Darling has lists, and on these lists are things that just get postponed from day, to day, to day. I have lists, and on these lists are things that just get postponed from day, to day, to day! 🤣 I think it's a peri-menopause/menopause thing! We've only recently fallen down the Grey's Anatomy rabbit hole, so I smiled at the McDreamy references in relation to Zach!

I loved It's Getting Hot in Here by Jane Costello, it's full of humour, fun and sarcasm and the protagonist is a similar age to me. I didn't relate to some of the stuff Lisa was going through, but a lot of it I did. I laughed out loud every time she moved 'descale the kettle' to the next day! The whole book is a story of growth and self-development, for all the characters to be honest, but especially for Lisa and her eldest son Leo - the stroppy teenager! 

Marisa Calin as the narrator did an amazing job, reading the book, throwing her heart into the story and bringing the characters to life. 

Thank you to Zibby Publishing and Libro FM for the opportunity to listen to and review It's Getting Hot in Here by Jane Costello.

About the Book

HER HOT FLUSHES MUST BE THE PERI-MENOPAUSE. THEY SURELY COULDN'T BE ... LOVE? Lisa Darling - high-flying TV-exec and twice-divorced mother-of-two - has enough on her plate without having to deal with the handsome New Yorker parachuted in to her best friend's job at work.She's already navigating life with a grotty teenage son, organising a PTA cheese & wine event, supporting her oldest friend through breast cancer treatment and, since she hit 47, facing a new perimenopause symptom every day. It's no wonder she never has time for Pilates or that DIY panelling she keeps seeing on Instagram (though she'd be the first to admit she'd rather share a bottle of wine with her friends any day).So when Lisa starts feeling overheated every time she clashes with Zach Russo, she convinces herself it will pass. Maybe her HRT just needs adjusting. Until, that is, she finds herself in a sexy - and seriously ill-advised - clinch with him. And then another . .All of which leads to one these long-forgotten feelings couldn't be caused by something else entirely . . . could they? 


About Jane - by Jane

I write romantic comedy books that celebrate all that’s great about midlife - and make you laugh about anything that isn’t. 

I’m the Sunday Times bestselling author of 15 novels, five of which were published under the name ‘Catherine Isaac’. 

My new book, IT’S GETTING HOT IN HERE, is a spicy rom com about a 40-something TV exec and mum-of-two navigating perimenopause, a moody teenager, the to-do list from hell . . . and some delightfully steamy thoughts about a handsome new colleague at work.

My novels have been translated into 26 languages, selected by the Richard & Judy Book Club and I’ve been honoured to win a Romantic Novelists’ Award - twice! 

I was born in Liverpool, where I still live with my husband and three sons. When I’m not writing, you’ll usually find me on the tennis court, wishing I’d started to play about 25 years before I did.



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Sunday, April 6, 2025

My Review for The Wayside by Caroline Wolff, read by Lauren Fortgang

April 06, 2025  , , , , ,  No comments


Secret societies and sinister goings-on.

I liked this one, it took me a while to get into, and it was pretty slow-going, but once I figured out who everyone was, and got my head around the different points of view, I became invested in what happened to Jake and Sasha. Was it really suicide or was there something more ominous going on?

I found myself asking whether secret societies do exist in colleges, or whether they are always a work of fiction? I chose not to attend college or university, and I therefore have no firsthand experience of this. 

I enjoyed how invested Jake's Mum was in finding out the truth, even if it was sometimes to the point of obsessiveness. Lauren Fortgang as the narrator brought an element of mystery to the story which I'm not sure you'd have achieved from reading it. I would definitely listen to something she narrates in the future.

Thank you to Libro FM and Blackstone Publishing for the opportunity to listen to and review The Wayside by Caroline Wolff.

About the Book

When Kate Cleary’s son, Jake, dies at his elite liberal arts college, she refuses to believe it was the suicide it appeared to be. Something sinister is at play, and Kate becomes determined to retrace Jake’s steps during his final days. Descending into a spiral of obsession that threatens her grip on reality, Kate falls farther into a dangerous mystery even as she gets closer to the terrifying truth that Jake himself wanted to keep hidden.

Combining elements of dark academia and domestic fiction with a modern bent, The Wayside is a sharply observed story of grief, devotion, and the secrets we keep from those who love us most.

About Caroline

Caroline Wolff is a writer and editor. She holds an MFA in Fiction from New York University, where she also taught undergraduate creative writing. She lives in downtown Manhattan.




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Thursday, April 3, 2025

My Review for A New Home at the Wartime Hotel by Maisie Thomas

April 03, 2025  , , , ,  2 comments


Times are changing, as Manchester's ladies try to survive during WWII.

I love an educational WWII novel, and I've read many over the years. The ones where you learn more about the atrocities of the prison camps and the tenacity of the people who were held there. But I equally love a more lighthearted story, which is exactly what A New Home at the Wartime Hotel by Maisie Thomas is. It's the first in a new series, and although there is one heartbreaking topic (check the trigger warnings), this was a winner for me.

This time we are in Manchester as WWII continues, men are off fighting and the women are left to hold the fort - or the hotel! The characters are resilient and resourceful, and Kitty in particular was amazing as she fought to keep her home, and reconfigure the business to provide for her teenage daughter. Lily, Beatrice and Kitty (and Abbie) all became firm friends by the end of the story and I can't wait to hear what's in store for them next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review A New Home at the Wartime Hotel by Maisie Thomas.

About the Book

Kitty learned early on in her marriage that her husband, Bill Dunbar, isn’t reliable with money. So when they inherit the Dunbar family hotel at the start of the war, she's hopeful that their financial worries are over… until the bailiffs turn up! With Bill away fighting, it’s up to Kitty to turn things around for her family, or risk ruin.

Lily worked as a chambermaid at Dunbar’s before the war. She met Daniel there, but their relationship was complicated by class differences and the disapproval of Daniel’s mother. Now Lily is pregnant – and with Daniel away at sea, she is all alone. When tragedy strikes, will Kitty and Dunbar’s come to her rescue?

Beatrice is in her forties, unmarried, and working in a job that exposes her to the harsh realities of poverty and sacrifice. She wonders whether the war might give her the opportunity to change lives for the better - including her own. But when she's accused of a crime she didn't commit, the future looks bleak... until Kitty makes a surprising suggestion.

Can the community around Dunbar’s hotel pull together and provide a beacon of hope and resilience, in the dark days of war?



About Maisie

Maisie Thomas is the author of the new Wartime Hotel series published by Boldwood. The first two titles will be published in 2025. The stories concentrate on the importance of female friendship, especially when those friendships come about unexpectedly, and the ways in which women support one another through the highs and lows of everyday life in wartime.

Maisie is also the author of the bestselling Railway Girls saga series about the brave women and girls who worked on Britain's railways in WW2. She also writes as Susanna Bavin and Polly Heron. As Polly, she writes the 1920s saga series, The Surplus Girls, about young women striving for independence in the aftermath of the First World War. As Susanna she has written four stand-alone sagas (The Deserter's Daughter, A Respectable Woman, The Sewing Room Girl and The Poor Relation) and a WW2 saga series, The Home Front Girls.

Maisie was born and brought up in Manchester, which provides the location for her novels. She now lives on the beautiful North Wales coast with her husband and their two rescue cats.


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