Sunday, March 16, 2025

My Review for The Full Nest by Fiona Gibson

March 16, 2025  , , ,  No comments


Surely there's nothing wrong with a tin of pilchards that are 27 years out of date....?!

Fiona's books are funny, you can usually hear me giggling away to myself somewhere when I'm reading one, and The Full Nest was very definitely witty, with loveable characters, from Carly's eccentric Dad who's addicted to game shows, to Eddie - Carly and Frank's eldest child who finds himself having to grow up superfast.

I wanted to slap Frank around a bit for acting like papa bear and retreating to his cave when the going got tough, but on the other hand, he just needed a big hug to show him that everything will work out when you all stick together.

I didn't manage to have kids of my own and when my stepdaughter's kids stay, I love them being with me, but it's so lovely when they go home!!!

If you're in the mood for an easy-read, that'll have you laughing out loud, then grab yourself a copy of Fiona's new book, you won't be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the opportunity to read and review The Full Nest by Fiona Gibson.

About the Book

One family home. Three generations. What could possibly go wrong?

Carly loves her family. She really does. It’s just that now her three children are grown up, she thought it was her time.

Everyone talks about the empty nest and how difficult that can be, but Carly and her husband, Frank, have often fantasised about it – meals without arguments, conversation without shouting over the sound of the Xbox, holidays planned around the culture not the kids’ club.

But Carly’s nest is far from empty. Her elderly dad needs more support and is moving in ‘temporarily’. On top of which, Carly’s son, Eddie, is far too comfortable at home – why go out and get a job, when your parents keep you fed and your clothes laundered? And just when Carly is starting to pull her hair out, Eddie drops a bombshell that changes everything.

Is there room in the nest for one more?

About Fiona

As a self-confessed magazine addict, Fiona started working on teen bible Jackie in Dundee at the age of 17. Originally from a West Yorkshire village called Goose Eye, she spent her twenties as a magazine journalist in London and moved to a crumbling old house in the South Lanarkshire countryside when her twin sons were toddlers.

When her boys left for university, Fiona felt a craving for city life again. With her husband Jimmy and their daughter Erin, she now lives in a flat in Glasgow. She loves to draw, paint, cook and run – usually with her collie cross, Jack (just the running part).


















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My Review for Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

March 16, 2025  , , ,  No comments



Smee had pleasant names for everything, and his cutlass was Johnny Corkscrew, because he wiggled it in the wound.

Peter Pan was chosen as March's book for our #classiclitbookclub, in fact I think it was one of the ones I suggested, and I so wanted to love this, but I didn't, I just couldn't. Of course the majority of us know the story of Peter Pan, but I'm sure, like me, many of you have only ever seen movie versions. The Disney version is whimsical and delightful and fun. The book is very much the opposite in my opinion. It's incredibly dark in places, with a lot more implied and actual death than the movie ever shows us. Tinkerbell is quite honestly a bitchy, jealous little fairy who wants Peter all to herself and is quite happy to allow people to be killed, in order to achieve this. 

I found the parents strange, they are supposed to be living in the adult world as their kids are off on their adventures in Neverland, but the Nanny is a dog and as a punishment to himself for the kids going missing, Dad lives in the kennel! I may try this as an audiobook at some point and see if a good narrator can help me enjoy it more, but right now, this wasn't for me.

The painted edition from Harper Muse though is absolutely gorgeous and it will still sit prettily on my shelf with its fellow painted editions. 

About the Book

One starry night, Peter Pan and Tinker Bell lead the three Darling children over the rooftops of London and away to Neverland - the island where lost boys play, mermaids splash and fairies make mischief. But a villainous-looking gang of pirates lurk in the docks, led by the terrifying Captain James Hook. Magic and excitement are in the air, but if Captain Hook has his way, before long, someone will be walking the plank and swimming with the crocodiles...


About J.M. Barrie

James Matthew Barrie was a Scottish novelist and playwright, best remembered as the creator of Peter Pan. He was born and educated in Scotland and then moved to London, where he wrote several successful novels and plays.

The son of a weaver, Barrie studied at the University of Edinburgh. He took up journalism for a newspaper in Nottingham and contributed to various London journals before moving there in 1885. His early Auld Licht Idylls (1889) and A Window in Thrums (1889) contain fictional sketches of Scottish life representative of the Kailyard school. The publication of The Little Minister (1891) established his reputation as a novelist. During the next decade, Barrie continued to write novels, but gradually, his interest turned towards the theatre. 

In London, he met Llewelyn Davies, who inspired him about magical adventures of a baby boy in gardens of Kensington, included in The Little White Bird, then to a "fairy play" about this ageless adventures of an ordinary girl, named Wendy, in the setting of Neverland. People credited this best-known play with popularizing Wendy, the previously very unpopular name, and quickly overshadowed his previous, and he continued successfully. 

Following the deaths of their parents, Barrie unofficially adopted the boys. He gave the rights to great Ormond street hospital, which continues to benefit.


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Thursday, March 13, 2025

My Review for The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore, read by Regina Reagan

March 13, 2025  , , , , , , , ,  No comments

Archer, Iris and Olive, a gorgeous family in the making...

Laurie Gilmore has once again blown me away with another cute story from Dream Harbor (yes, I'm using the US spelling)! I love the small town vibe, where everyone knows everyone, and that includes everyone's business. The elderly contingent of Dream Harbor are awesome, such gossips, but equally their hearts are in the right place, and they just want to help. 

Olive is a cute, sassy little girl who knows what she wants, and goes all out to get it, and that includes getting her Dad and Iris together. She was so funny and made me laugh a lot. Regina Reagan, as the narrator did a great job with all the characters, but particularly Olive, she had her spot on.

I listened to this book in less than 24 hours, whilst I was outside, getting my garden ready for spring. If you're up for an adorable, slightly spicy, small-town romance, then grab a copy of this and settle down with a cuppa and a packet of biscuits and relocate to Dream Harbor for a few hours.

Thank you to Libro FM and Harper Collins for the opportunity to listen to and review The Strawberry Patch Pancake House.


About the Book

As a renowned chef, single-dad Archer never planned on moving to a small town, let alone running a pancake restaurant. But Dream Harbor needs a new chef, and Archer needs a community to help raise his daughter, Olive.

Iris has never managed to hold down a job for more than a few months. So when Mayor Kelly suggests Archer is looking for a nanny, and Iris might be available, she shudders at the thought. But in need of money she reluctantly agrees.

As Archer and Iris get used to their new roles, is it possible that they might have more in common than they first thought, or is Olive just determined to play match-maker…


About Laurie/Melissa - by Laurie

As Melissa McTernan, I write sweet and steamy fantasy/paranormal romance. I love grumpy heroes, sarcastic heroines, and grown-up fairy tales. I am currently working on The Wolf Brother’s series for One More Chapter (a HarperCollins UK imprint). The trilogy follows three werewolf brothers and their (maybe if they don’t screw it up) Mates.

As Laurie Gilmore (my pen name), I write steamy small-town romance. My Dream Harbor series is filled with quirky townsfolk, cozy settings, and swoon-worthy romance. I love finding books with the perfect balance of sweetness and spice and strive for that in my own writing. If you ever wished you lived in Stars Hollow (or that Luke and Lorelai would just get together already!) then these books are definitely for you.

When I’m not writing, I’m most likely reading or wrangling my kids as a stay-at-home mom. I live in upstate New York with my husband, kids, cats, puppy, and full bookshelves. I write romance to keep my sanity.

















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Wednesday, March 12, 2025

My Review for Finding Serenissima by Apple Gidley

March 12, 2025  , , ,  No comments


Gorgeous, beguiling, enchanting, heartwarming, enthralling! There are not enough synonyms to begin to describe, Finding Serenissima. 

You may have gathered, from the first sentence, that I absolutely adored this book! My favourite trope is 'new life' when a character leaves their old life behind and starts over somewhere new. My imagination always goes with them, and this is exactly what happened as I was reading Apple's new book. 

Apple hauled me from my chair on the east coast of the UK, right into the pages, into Amelia's life and into the winding canals of Venice. I felt every breeze, I smelt every coffee, and I relished every meal that was made. I was right there as, for the first time, Amelia experiences the delights of Venice, the quirky buildings, and some eccentric characters, as she navigates her way through her exciting and sometimes scary new life, budding friendships and the possibilities of love. 

Finding Serenissima delves into a couple of difficult topics, specifically Alzheimer's and the death of a baby. Apple deals with these with compassion and empathy, and they are woven into the story in a delicate manner. 

I've never been to Venice, but I've always wanted to visit, maybe in the spring though before the heat becomes too oppressive and the waters too pungent!

Thank you to Apple Gidley for reaching out and asking me to read and review Finding Serenissima.

About the Book

With the help of a feisty hotel owner, an attractive water-taxi driver, and a gondola full of Italians who call Venice home, Amelia, a widowed Australian, begins her search for serenity. As the island city works its magic, she comes to realize her life has been overshadowed by her famous American husband, Leo, well before his decline into Alzheimer’s.

As Amelia navigates Venice’s winding canals and its language, she gracefully confronts the joys and challenges of aging, discovering that love and laughter can come at any stage of life. Balancing long-distance parenting and familial obligations, she redefines what it means to live fully as an older woman, all while the magical city slowly helps her reclaim her identity.

Finding Serenissima is a heartwarming tale of second chances, exploring the complexities of long marriage, independence, and rediscovering love in the most unexpected places.


About Apple by Apple

I left England a month after my birth when my Australian mum and I joined my British dad in Nigeria. That first plane trip is not something I recall although I have vivid snapshots of events in my early life there.

Educated at NEGS, Armidale, NSW for seven years, my ties to Australia are strong, with holidays spent both at home - wherever that happened to be - and with family and friends Down Under.

A peripatetic life allows me to draw on customs and cultures from many of the countries I’ve called home. Places as diverse as Papua New Guinea and The Netherlands, Trinidad & Tobago and Malaysia and eight others in between. A sliver of my heart has been left in each place lived as people met and events, good or bad, from celebrations to coups d'etats, have become woven into my memories.

My roles have been equally diverse - magazine editor, intercultural trainer, British Honorary Consul in Equatorial Guinea, to mention a few. And now writer.

I am thrilled my last book, Have You Eaten Rice Today? (Vine Leaves Press, 2022) and is receiving good reviews. My next book, this time a contemporary novel called Finding Serenissima will be released by the same publisher in March 2025. 

I'm returning to historical fiction in my WIP - working title Annie's Day which takes place in wartime New Guinea, (Vine Leaves Press, November 2025).



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Sunday, March 9, 2025

My Review for Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley

March 09, 2025  , , , , , ,  No comments



Scotland's beautiful landscape, in all its glory.

I loved being a part of Alex's Street Team and I loved immersing myself into Brooke and Jack's lives and their trip along the Skye Trail, with all the authenticity of the incredible scenery, as the pair are thrown together once again, as they hike their way along, taking incredible photographs and writing up their travels as they go. 

Told in two timelines, then, (seven years ago) and now. We flip between the two with 'then' explaining just what happened between the two of them and in my opinion, the mistake Jack made, all those years ago when he broke Brooke's heart. But now they get a second chance at the love they had for each other, but only time will tell if Brooke can put the past behind her.

Scot and Bothered is another enjoyable read from Alex, and her love and passion for Scotland and all things Scottish is evident through her writing. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Alexandra Kiley for the opportunity to read and review Scot and Bothered.

About the Book

Brooke Sinclair’s dream of being a published author derailed when she was expelled from the University of Edinburgh seven years ago. Now a ghostwriter, she sticks to other people’s stories. But when her college mentor Mhairi McCallister needs a co-writer for her memoir about Scotland’s most challenging trek, Brooke would do anything for the opportunity—including agreeing to hike the rugged Skye Trail for authenticity’s sake... not knowing the nature photographer who’ll join her is Jack Sutherland, the man who shattered Brooke’s writing career—and her heart.

Between getting sacked from the University and walking away from his family’s tour-guiding business to follow his photography dreams, Jack is desperate to prove he didn’t disappoint his family for nothing. And he can’t ignore his Aunt Mhairi’s final wishes for her memoir. Even if it means acting as guide and storyteller for the one who got away. Even if it means keeping secrets about Mhairi’s health.

As Jack and Brooke head into the solitude of the sweeping Scottish landscape, they’re forced to confront old feelings that haven’t disappeared with time. But can two weeks and eighty miles heal years of unspoken hurt and offer a second chance at the end of the trail?


About Alex

Alexandra Kiley writes big-hearted romances full of banter, found-family, and deep love. When she’s not writing, you can find her drinking tea, hiking, or gazing adoringly at the mountains of Colorado where she lives with her husband and two kids. Her novels are inspired by her semester in Scotland where she fell in love with not only the lush and magical land, but also the people who invited her into their homes and made her feel like family.





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Thursday, March 6, 2025

My Review for Death at Horsey Mere by Ross Greenwood

March 06, 2025  , , , ,  No comments


I wish I'd discovered Ross before now!

I'll be honest, the only reason I chose to read this book was because I live just a few miles from Horsey Mere - yep, it's a real place, with lots of seals, but no dead bodies - as far as I know! But by God, I wish I'd discovered this series earlier! Now I want to read all the Norfolk series, followed by the rest of Ross's books. 

I loved it, from beginning to end. It's fast-paced, descriptive, full of great characters (well the good guys anyway) and lots and lots of references to real places in Norfolk and Suffolk. We only moved here a couple of years ago, but it's cool to see the pop-up references to the villages and tourist attractions. 

The story was brilliant, if dark, but honestly, stuff like human trafficking is prevalent and even though this is fiction, it's good to see it written about, and it'll definitely make you think about the completely evil people there are in this world. 

Apparently this is the fourth book in the Norfolk series, and it can definitely be read as a standalone, but I'll certainly be revisiting Norfolk in the earlier books. 

Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review Death at Horsey Mere by Ross Greenwood.



 About the Book

Freshly promoted DI Ashley Knight has enjoyed her first six months in charge even though it’s been a challenging time with her team focused on breaking down a network of people smugglers.

One organisation has been swept away, but the other group operating in the county manage to fade from sight and reappear almost like their nickname, the Vampires. Blood is spilled, people vanish, lives are shattered, but intel is scarce. When they do catch the criminals, nobody talks. Tracking the ringleaders down in this vacuum is exhausting and morale is plummeting.

A teenage couple go missing in Suffolk, a body is found near a lighthouse and when two girls disappear from Norwich’s Golden Triangle, Hector makes a connection which chills Ashley to the bone. When another victim is found at Horsey Mere, the link to the ruthless criminals is obvious. Can Ashley solve the case, or will the mysterious Typhon prove to be an unstoppable force?

About Ross - by Ross

I was born in 1973 in Peterborough and lived there until I was 20, attending The King's School in the city. I then began a rather nomadic existence, living and working all over the country and various parts of the world.

I found myself returning to Peterborough many times over the years, usually when things had gone wrong. It was on one of these occasions that I met my partner about 100 metres from my back door whilst walking a dog. Two children swiftly followed. I'm still a little stunned by the pace of it now.

My first book Chancer was written after I decided to do something challenging while my knees permitted. No skydiving for me. I became a prison officer for four years. Ironically it was the four a.m. feed which gave me the opportunity to finish the book as unable to get back to sleep I completed it in the early morning hours.

It's surprising for me to realise I've written sixteen books now. There are three strands, one where the books concern lives affected by prison, and then my detective series starring DI John Barton. The first Barton book, The Snow Killer hit the coveted number one spot on KOBO and AUDIBLE, with the rest of the series not far behind.

I've also written four detective books in a Norfolk series now, starting with Death on Cromer Beach. There are two more planned.




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Sunday, March 2, 2025

My Review for The Legend of Uh by Aaron N. Hall read by Adriel Brandt

March 02, 2025  , , , , ,  No comments


Wizard waffles and a noodle cult!

The Legend of Uh is hilarious! The humour had me laughing out loud and reaching for my phone to add notes, as I listened to this on my long walks through local villages. Often I stopped in the middle of a quiet country road to write something down so I wouldn't forget it in my review. 

The narrator is honestly one of the best I've listened to - and I listen to a lot of audiobooks. He brought the characters to life, and his Scottish and Irish accents were incredible. I have no idea whether those were the accents Aaron was thinking about when he wrote the book, but Adriel nailed it!

I loved the weird and wonderful characters that DJ and his friends met along the way, in particular, the waffle wizard (who pops up in the most unusual places), had my heart and yes, I want to try one of those waffles please!

Aaron hits the mark with the cult of Phillips and Friar Steve. I couldn't help but laugh and enjoy those plain old names that bring such interest and comedy to the story. 

If you enjoy fantasy and humour all rolled into one, I'd recommend you read or listen to The Legend of Uh - but honestly - the narrator is awesome!

Thank you to Aaron N. Hall for the opportunity to listen to and review The Legend of Uh, and for Adriel Brandt for making my walks fly by.

About the Book

Sir Dashing Junior was only knighted because they couldn't knight his father twice. Now he's determined to prove he's worthy of his new title.

With an aspiring ranger, an awkward friar, and a book-loving orc, DJ will venture across the territory of Uh to reach the Amulet of the Goddess, proving that he’s truly worthy of knighthood.

Along the way, he and his companions will encounter a cursed author, a violent noodle cult, democratic goblins, and a whole lot more.

It’s a journey fraught with danger and discovery, and the territory is rich with monsters and magic, so is DJ’s quest for respect really worth the cost?


About Aaron

Aaron N. Hall learned that he loved storytelling when he was only nine years old. He wrote poems, songs, and episodic stories for his friends until he began work on his first novel, Foreordained, at the age of fifteen. By the time he graduated high school, the book’s first draft was complete.

For two years, Aaron N. Hall left on a spiritual sabbatical then returned home to complete a degree in public relations at Utah Valley University. After completing his missionary service and education, he began work on more stories.

Since then, he’s completed the epic Christian fantasy trilogy the Wevlian Chronicles, the tongue-in-cheek superhero satire, the Hammerfist series, and multiple collections of stories and poems, including I’m Sorry, Here’s a Plasma Rifle and Love Letters to a House on Fire. His upcoming YA fantasy comedy, The Legend of Uh, will release in February 2025.

When he’s not writing, Aaron N. Hall serves as the Director of Public Relations and Messaging for the 501c3 nonprofit, Operation Literacy. He enjoys exercising, reading, watching movies, playing Zelda, and sipping herbal tea. He currently lives in Utah.










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