Wednesday, September 11, 2024

My Review for The Things I Should Have Told You by Carmel Harrington, Read by Aidan Kelly, Caroline Lennon and Emer O'Connor

September 11, 2024  , , ,  No comments



Continuing with my Carmel Harrington binge, I grabbed myself an audiobook copy of The Things I Should Have Told You from Libby, popped my AirPods in and set about tidying the garden. Another story of Carmel’s which blew me away, with lovely characters, gorgeous settings and lots and lots of sentimental moments.

The storyline was delightful, if a little sad at times, and I was blown away with the whole ‘road trip in a camper van’ idea, even if camping isn’t my idea of a fun holiday! Pops, even after death, manages to travel along with the Guinness family as they wend their way through Europe, on the trip of a lifetime, not knowing which country they’ll be visiting next, let alone what surprises Pops had arranged for them once they arrived.

As with the previous Carmel Harrington books I’ve listened to, this also has underlying themes. This time we see a destructive case of school bullying, marriage difficulties and family illness. Carmel writes about all the issues sensitively and with empathy and I really enjoy that her books aren’t just a simple story, but that they’re written with so much more in mind. 

Thank you to Libby for providing the opportunity and the availability to bring books to life for so many people and thank you to Carmel Harrington for being such an incredible writer. Never stop writing!


About the Book

Every family has a story…

But for the Guinness family a happy ending looks out of reach. Olly and Mae's marriage is crumbling, their teenage daughter Evie is on a mission to self-destruct and their beloved Pops is dying of cancer. Their once strong family unit is slowly falling apart.

But Pops has one final gift to offer his beloved family – a ray of hope to cling to. As his life's journey draws to a close, he sends his family on an adventure across Europe in a camper van, guided by his letters, his wisdom and his love.

Because Pops knows that all his family need is time to be together, to find their love for each other and to find their way back home…

About Carmel

International bestseller Carmel Harrington lives in Wexford with her family & rescue dog. Carmel writes domestic dramas filled with emotional reveals and twists. Her trademark is to write authentic, relatable characters that readers can root for, and has been described as a ‘storyteller with heart, hope and humour.’ (RTE Culture)

A confessed wearer-of-heart-on-her-sleeve, Carmel smiles a lot because life is good. She knowingly overuses the word lovely. Speaking of which, she calls it chasing the lovely when she writes. A few of her favourite things include rainbows, good coffee and gin, notions – all of them, lemon drizzle cake and books. Always books.





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Friday, August 30, 2024

My Review for The Woman in Me by Britney Spears, read by Michelle Williams

August 30, 2024  , , , ,  No comments


I’m not a massive Britney Spears fan. In fact, I can’t say I’m a fan at all, but I was intrigued to listen to her story after hearing so much about it from other readers. I was also a little curious as to why she had cancelled her Las Vegas residency so quickly when it was evident she had a huge amount of fans out there.

Honestly, it was heartbreaking that someone who was so talented and wanted to live the dream they had had as a little girl could be squashed flat and controlled so heartlessly by her family, but predominantly by her father. 

Her conservatorship battle in court goes to show that hopefully, in the majority of cases, right will win and evil will be punished. Yes, Britney is a little bat-shit crazy, but no one deserves to be treated like that. I’m pleased she got the right outcome in the end.

Britney opens the audiobook by stating that she cannot bear to read her story herself without getting upset which is the reason Michelle Williams narrates it. Although her voice did grate on me a little at the beginning, I did get used to it and ultimately it was really interesting listen.

Autobiographies always fascinate and intrigue me, (probably because I’m a nosey so-and-so)! This was no exception, and I’d definitely recommend The Woman in Me if you’re simply interested in famous people and what goes on in their lives.

About the Book

In June 2021, the whole world was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her voice—her truth—was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. The Woman in Me reveals for the first time her incredible journey—and the strength at the core of one of the greatest performers in pop music history.

Written with remarkable candor and humor, Spears’s groundbreaking book illuminates the enduring power of music and love—and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last.
























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Sunday, August 25, 2024

My Review for A Christmas Gift for the East End Library Girls by Patricia McBride

August 25, 2024  , , ,  No comments



This is the third book in the East End Library Girls series and another brilliant book from Patricia McBride. Once again, we are immersed in the lives of the Eastenders of London, during the traumatic and difficult times of the Second World War, but this Christmas, they have the excitement of a visit from the King and Queen of England to look forward to!

Cordelia, Mavis and Jane are back between the pages of our book and honestly, I adore them. They are the stalwarts of the Silvertown library, which is very much the heart of the community, bringing people together for friendship during these hard times. The story and the characters are just so warm and endearing. Despite the setting, you can’t help but be drawn into their camaraderie and love. 

If you like warm, light-hearted, historical fiction, then pour yourself a cup of tea, put your feet up and enjoy Patricia’s latest book about these brilliant east-end girls. 

Thank you to Boldwood Books, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review A Christmas Gift for the East End Library Girls by Patricia McBride.


About the Book

As the war continues, the library girls face their greatest challenge yet...

With the echoes of war reverberating around London, Cordelia, Mavis, and Jane are delighted to be blessed with some good news: the King and his Queen will be making a visit to the East End.

As excitement builds, so does their apprehension. With each passing day, the threat of destruction from air raids increasingly plagues their worried minds.

But with Christmas on the horizon, their morale is at an all-time high, and the girls are determined to display to their esteemed guests all they have done with the library – and with so little.

For Mavis especially, she is more focused on the library than ever – her beloved Joe is still fighting overseas and she is waiting for news on whether she might adopt young Joyce.

But perhaps the royal visit will not be the only Christmas gift she'll be surprised with this year…?


About Patricia 

Patricia McBride is the author of several fiction and non-fiction books as well as numerous articles. She loves undertaking the research for her books, helped by stories told to her by her Cockney mother and grandparents who lived in the East End. Patricia lives in Cambridge with her husband.







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Sunday, August 4, 2024

My Review for A Class Act by Julie Houston

August 04, 2024  , , , , , ,  1 comment




Julie is a new-to-me author, and A Class Act didn’t disappoint in the least. I’m pleased to have discovered Julie at the beginning of this brand-new series. 

The story is full of diversity, family dynamics, romance, disappointments, humour, and prominent characters. Robyn is lovely, I admired her determination in the first half of the book when she tried so, so hard to achieve her dream of becoming a West End star. I love a musical so I was fully invested in Robyn’s dream and loved her walks through the streets of theatreland in the west end of London.

I’m looking forward to reading more about Robyn and her sisters as the series continues in the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review A Class Act by Julie Houston.




About the Book

Robyn Allen is finally getting closer to her dream of West End stardom. And along with her role dancing in the latest hot musical, she’s being wined and dined by an equally hot man – the wildly successful and well-connected Fabian Carrington. But one slip up and her dreams are shattered, and Robyn has to hobble back to the Yorkshire village of Beddingfield, and the life she hoped she’d escaped.

Moving back into her mum’s house with her recalcitrant teenage sister Sorrel, next door to her older sister Jess who’s fed up with picking up the slack, is not how Robyn pictured her year. But there’s more to come. Sorrel needs a new school, and the school needs a new drama teacher. Despite having vowed never to teach again, Robyn knows she has to support her sister.

So together Sorrel and Robyn vow to take on St Mede’s – home to jokers, tearaways and trouble-makers, but with a hidden heartbeat ready to be inspired. And who knows, the kids might have something to teach Robyn about life too…


About Julie

Julie lives in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire where her novels are set, and her only claims to fame are that she teaches part-time at ‘Bridget Jones’ author Helen Fielding’s old junior school and her neighbour is ‘Chocolat’ author, Joanne Harris. After University, where she studied Education and English Literature, she taught for many years as a junior school teacher. As a newly qualified teacher, broke and paying off her first mortgage, she would spend every long summer holiday working on different Kibbutzim in Israel. After teaching for a few years she decided to go to New Zealand to work and taught in Auckland for a year before coming back to this country. She now teaches just two days a week, and still loves the buzz of teaching junior-aged children. She has been a magistrate for the past nineteen years, and, when not distracted by Ebay, Twitter and Ancestry, spends much of her time writing. Julie is married, has a twenty-four-year-old son and twenty-one-year-old daughter and a ridiculous Cockerpoo called Lincoln. She runs and swims because she’s been told it’s good for her, but would really prefer a glass of wine, a sun lounger and a jolly good book - preferably with Matthew Mcconaughay in attendance.

She hates skiing, gets sick on boats and wouldn’t go pot-holing or paddy diving if her life depended on it.















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Wednesday, July 31, 2024

My Review for We Were on a Break by Jo Lovett

July 31, 2024  , , , , , ,  No comments



We Were on a Break made me laugh out loud and smack my forehead in frustration! Honestly, I loved Emma. She was eccentric, quirky and hilarious. On the other hand, Callum was a bit boring and too straitlaced. I loved the synopsis. I really fancy the idea of a road trip across Europe, although maybe not with an ex! That would be quite hard work. 

I liked Jo’s descriptions of the places Emma and Callum visited, and I would have loved to stay in the monastery with the monks, they honestly seemed like such a fun bunch of people, although I’m not sure that was the impression I was supposed to be getting!

If you want a book to immerse yourself into this summer, grab a copy of this and lose yourself on a journey in a camper van called Miranda, across Europe.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review We Were on a Break by Jo Lovett.




About the Book

A summer to remember...

A love to last a lifetime...

Stranded in Rome, with all planes grounded due to volcanic ash, Callum gratefully accepts a lift back to London with a friend-of-a-friend who's on her way home after a European road trip in a campervan.

But when he meets her, his heart plummets - she's Emma, his ex, The ex, and he can't be stuck in a van with her.

When Emma sees Callum again, she's horrified. It's taken so many years to heal her heart - she really doesn't want to spend the next few days in close quarters with him.

As they embark on the drive of a lifetime, it begins to feel as though fate might have had a hand in reuniting them. But understanding what happened in the past and coming to terms with the present isn't easy. Can the gift of time - and forced proximity – bring them back together again?


About Jo

Jo Lovett writes heart-warming, feel-good romcoms. Her latest book, We Were On a Break, published by Boldwood, will be released on 29 July 2024.

Jo lives in London with her family. She started writing romantic comedy when she realised that she was regularly begging her oldest son to let her do his English homework but she wasn't actually that interested in haunted houses or Macbeth. When she can escape her laundry mountain, she enjoys reading, tennis and wine.
















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Sunday, July 28, 2024

My Review for For the Love of Lily by Olivia Lockhart

July 28, 2024  , , , , , ,  No comments


I loved, loved, loved this. I loved Lily; I loved Luke, and I almost loved Zack. Too much happened and I don’t want to give any spoilers, but if you love romance, then you absolutely must read this. The story does sort of end on a bit of a cliffhanger, but that’s good. I can’t wait to read the next one and thankfully I won’t have long to wait.

Few books make me cry, but Olivia got me good and proper with this one. OMG, soul-searching and heart-wrenching is an understatement. That email.....! It ripped my heart apart, mangled it all up and shoved it back into my chest! A book that does that to me will always be a winner. Thank you Olivia, for giving us Lily, Luke and Zack!

Thank you to Olivia Lockhart and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review For the Love of Lily.



About the Book

Lily Forshaw loves her life, her job, and her best friends. Romance? Not on her radar. So, when a blind date with Zack leaves her unexpectedly smitten, she’s completely caught off guard.

But Zack isn’t the only one vying for her affection. As her heart becomes entangled between two very different men, Lily tumbles into an emotional whirlwind.

Lily hasn’t found ‘The One’, she’s found ‘The Two’.

With a troubled past haunting her, friendships hanging in the balance, and two passions pulling her in opposite directions, which future will Lily choose?

Can she truly have it all, or will she be forced to make an impossible decision?

Get ready to fall in love…



About Olivia

Olivia Lockhart (Livvie to her friends) is an English author who can't quite decide if she wants to write contemporary romance or paranormal romance. Either way, it HAS to be romance. 

She loves to write about the underdog, the one who got away, the bits of love stories we can all relate to. 

When not writing she can be found drinking wine, cuddling her beloved pooch or with her head buried in a book.




 

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Wednesday, July 24, 2024

My Review for Do Me a Favor by Cathy Yardley read by Elyse Dinh and Teddy Hamilton

July 24, 2024  , , , ,  No comments



I love an audiobook and although this was a slow start; I found myself enjoying it more and more as the book progressed. Hudson was a great character. I liked him from the very beginning, but Willa was a different story. It took me a while to warm to her, and she did irritate me a bit when she was constantly calling on Hudson to come and get her out of a pickle.

Both Elyse and Teddy were great narrators and worked well together as Willa and Hudson. Teddy’s voice made me melt inside. I have no idea what he looks like and don’t want to check in case I am disappointed lol!

Small-town-romance and family-orientated books are always a winner for me and once the scene was set, and I understood the background of both characters, I enjoyed Cathy Yardley’s latest book. 

Thank you to NetGalley, Cathy Yardley and Literary Media Tours for the opportunity to listen to and review Do Me a Favor.

About the Book

Willa Lieu-Endicott moved from California to the Pacific Northwest to start over. Since her husband’s death, she’s been struggling to get back her old career as a cookbook ghostwriter. Unfortunately, her latest project—ghostwriting for a viral cooking sensation known more for his washboard abs than his meals—has her stuck.

Until she meets her new neighbor.

Hudson Daws, the handyman next door, lives on a farm with his parents and two adult children. He’s the opposite of everything she’s ever known. His happily chaotic life includes biker barbecues, an escape artist dog, and adorably menacing goats. He’s also got a sinfully sexy smile and a rumbling bass voice that makes her shiver. He inspires her.

From their first meeting, the two fall into an escalating cycle of favors, paybacks…and attraction, even though Willa’s trying to keep her distance.

They both have their own pasts to deal with. Now, they just have to figure out if they have a future.


About Cathy - by Cathy

When I was in high school, my Vietnamese mother told me I couldn’t read romance because, and I quote, “they rot your brain.”

Needless to say, when I got a job at the library, I promptly went in search of this forbidden fruit. I started by sneaking category romance in the house… a Harlequin here, a Candelight romance there. Slim paperbacks that felt like rebellion, but also were just fun, full of love, angst, and happy endings.

Then I met my best friend in college, and she had an entire closet full of them. I stayed up until 3:00 in the morning reading my first Julie Garwood. From there, I started devouring as many as I could get my hands on… and started noodling my first plots.

Keep in mind: I come from a family of MBAs and engineers. The idea of becoming a writer was amusing to them. Writing, in their estimation, was something that you plinked away at for fun when you retired. It certainly wasn’t something people did for a living.

I tried, I swear. I tried to be other things. But writing just kept tugging at me. I used my Mass Communications degree to promote other authors at my local writing chapter. I wrote in addition to a wide variety of day jobs, saying it was “just for me.” 

So you’ve got to imagine my joyous shock when I sold my first book in 1999, to Harlequin. 

It’s been over 25 years since then, and sometimes, I’m still just as shocked… and just as happy.








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