Tuesday, January 20, 2026

My Review for The Market Girls of Petticoat Lane by Patricia McBride

January 20, 2026  , , , ,  No comments



“…their laughter wove its way around the bustling stalls, a joyous sound telling of friendship and resilience.” 💕

The Market Girls of Petticoat Lane is the first book in a brand-new series from Patricia McBride, and I knew I’d love it before I even started 📖✨ Despite being set during the Second World War, it’s cosy and full of hope and inspiration 🤍🌟 Maisie, Amanda, and Bethan — despite their differing home lives — are the very best of friends. They work together, play together, and look forward to a productive business future together 👭👚

I really enjoyed the camaraderie between the friends, and it’s honestly eye-opening to see how different young people were eighty years ago compared to today ⏳ The work ethic is far more evident, especially during the war years 💪🕊️ It’s always a joy to read wartime fiction like this, and I inevitably feel happy and contented by the end of the book 😊📚

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Market Girls of Petticoat Lane by Patricia McBride. 🙏✨

About the Book

With the world at war, three women stitch hope into every seam…

In the bustling heart of London’s East End, Maisie, Amanda and Bethan work long hours at the uniform factory. The pay is poor, the shifts relentless and the bombs fall far too close for comfort ­– but these three women refuse to give in to despair.

For when not at the factory, the girls spend their days on the markets of Petticoat Lane, trying to source material in order to make dresses ­– doing their best to bring any small amount of joy in these troubled times.

When a chance encounter leads them to a bundle of parachute silk, they decide to think bigger. And so, with needles in hand and a dream in their hearts, they begin sewing a beautiful wedding dress in secret.

But in wartime, secrets don’t stay hidden for long. And when Amanda uncovers seedy goings on at the factory, all of their livelihoods may be on the line…


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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Monday, January 19, 2026

My Review for The Matchbox Girl by Alice Jolly

January 19, 2026  , , , ,  No comments



“An autistic psychopath is the human being who is most fundamentally himself. He cannot be anything but original and spontaneous. He is uninhibited by the collective social will.”

The Matchbox Girl is a story based on true events in Austria 🇦🇹 during the Second World War. Our protagonist, Adelheid, has been placed in a specialist paediatric clinic 🏥 for children with a range of mental illnesses.

Adelheid tells her story as she lives it 📝. At times it feels chaotic and random, yet she makes meticulous notes about everything that happens around her—sometimes to the detriment of those sharing her world 😬. She follows the rules carefully and does exactly as she’s instructed, until she begins to realise 🤔 that maybe she needs to follow her own rules instead.

I initially found The Matchbox Girl difficult to read—not because of the subject matter, but because of the haphazard use of capital letters 😕. This felt like a deliberate stylistic choice, intended to reflect Adelheid’s fragmented mind, but it soon became normal and I stopped noticing it altogether 🙂

I particularly enjoyed reading about Dr A (Dr Asperger) 🧠 and the early identification of the disorder. While much of this book makes for unhappy and uncomfortable reading 💔, I think it’s essential that we understand what happened in our past—and why it still matters today.

Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing for the gifted copy of The Matchbox Girl by Alice Jolly.

About the Book

From the multi-award-winning author - a beautiful, stunningly ambitious novel telling the story of a young girl's battle for survival and search for the truth in occupied Vienna 

Adelheid Brunner does not speak. She writes and draws instead and her ambition is to own one thousand matchboxes. Her grandmother cannot make sense of this, but Adelheid will stop at nothing to achieve her dream. She makes herself invisible, hiding in cupboards with her pet rat, Franz Joseph, listening in on conversations she can't fully comprehend.

Then she meets Dr Asperger, a man who lets children play all day and who recognises the importance of matchboxes. He invites Adelheid to come and live at the Vienna paediatric clinic, where she and other children like herself will live under observation.

But the date is 1938 and the place is Vienna – a city of political instability, a place of increasing fear and violence. When the Nazis march into the city, a new world is created and difficult choices must be made.

Why are the clinic's children disappearing, and where do they go? Adelheid starts to suspect that some of Dr Asperger's games are played for the highest stakes. In order to survive, she must play a game whose rules she cannot yet understand.

Triumphant and tragic, soulful and spirited, The Matchbox Girl is a burningly brilliant book – that brings the stories of a generation of lost children into the light.


About Alice

Alice Jolly is a novelist and playwright. She published a memoir in 2015 called Dead Babies and Seaside Towns, which won the Pen Ackerley Prize, and one of her short stories won the 2014 V. S. Pritchett Memorial Prize, awarded by The Royal Society of Literature. She has also published two novels with Simon and Schuster and four of her plays have been produced by the professional company of the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham. She teaches creative writing on the Mst at Oxford University.

Her novel Mary Ann Sate, Imbecile was published by Unbound in June 2018. It was a Walter Scott Prize recommended novel for 2109, was on the longlist for the Ondaatje Prize awarded by the Royal Society of Literature and was runner up for the £30,000 Rathbones Folio Prize. Her novel Between the Regions of Kindness was published by Unbound in April 2019. In 2021 she was received an O. Henry Award for her short story ‘From Far Around They Saw Us Burn.’ She published a short story collection with Unbound in March 2023 entitled From Far Around They Saw Us Burn.


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Saturday, December 20, 2025

My Review for A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, read by Martin Jarvis

December 20, 2025  , , ,  No comments


“A multitude of people and yet a solitude.”

December's choice for #classiclitbookclub was A Tale of Two Cities, and I have to be honest—having finished it, I don't think Dickens and I click! 😬 This was tough, slow-going, and, quite frankly, boring. I tried to mix it up: I read some, but listened to most of it—let's be honest, it was the only way I was going to get through it! 🎧 That's fifteen hours of my life I'm never getting back. ⏳

I don't know whether it was the subject—the French Revolution 🇫🇷—or the writing, maybe some of both. I know people who love Dickens, so I’ll give others a go at some point, but this one will never be on my list again—sorry, not sorry! 😅

While I didn't enjoy most of the book, I did have a soft spot for Dr. Manette and his daughter Lucie ❤️, who comes to his rescue after many years of imprisonment in France and helps him regain relatively stable mental health. But yep, that was about it.

The only other Dickens novel I’ve read is A Christmas Carol 🎄, which I did enjoy—but now I’m thinking that was mostly because I already knew the story. 🤔

About the Book

A Tale of Two Cities is Charles Dickens’s historical novel set against the turbulent backdrop of London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The story follows the intersecting lives of Charles Darnay, a French aristocrat who renounces his family’s oppressive legacy; Lucie Manette, whose compassion and devotion inspire loyalty and love; and Sydney Carton, a dissolute English lawyer burdened by wasted potential and self-contempt. Central to the narrative is Dr. Alexandre Manette, Lucie’s father, whose long and unjust imprisonment in the Bastille embodies the cruelty of institutional tyranny.

As revolutionary fervor escalates into violence, Dickens explores themes of injustice, fate, resurrection, and personal sacrifice. The novel contrasts the social order of England with the chaos and vengeance of revolutionary France, illustrating how both systems can fail the vulnerable. Culminating in a powerful act of self-sacrifice, A Tale of Two Cities remains a profound meditation on redemption and the capacity for human goodness amid historical upheaval.


About Charles

Charles Dickens (1812–1870) was a prominent English novelist and social critic, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers of the Victorian era. Born in Portsmouth, England, Dickens experienced financial hardship early in life when his father was imprisoned for debt, forcing the young Dickens to work in a factory. These experiences deeply influenced his writing and fueled his lifelong concern for social injustice, poverty, and the treatment of children.

Dickens rose to fame with the publication of The Pickwick Papers and went on to write many enduring novels, including Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Great Expectations, and A Tale of Two Cities. His works are known for vivid characters, sharp social commentary, and a blend of humor and moral seriousness. Hugely popular during his lifetime, Dickens also gave public readings of his work, further cementing his celebrity. He died in 1870, leaving a lasting legacy as a writer who brought the struggles of ordinary people to the center of English literature.

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Sunday, December 14, 2025

My Review for Fake It 'Til You Sleigh It by MeLisa Ryun, read by Luke Persiani and Audrey Obeyn

December 14, 2025  , , , ,  No comments



"Say the lines as written or I swear I will write your character as a dickless mute monk."

This book has a pet alligator called Bubbles, so honestly, I was already in! Add Ethan with his awesome, loving Floridian family and Chase, who’s all attitude with some very real confidence issues underneath, and I was hooked.

Fake It ’Til You Sleigh It is hot, spicy, and funny, with a fake dating set-up that works really well. I will say, Christmas in the sun just doesn’t feel right to me — I want to be wrapped in a million layers on Christmas Day, not wearing a bikini on the beach — but I still had a great time with this one.

I really enjoyed watching Chase and Ethan take on their challenge to gain new subscribers for the TV channel they both work for, especially the clever (and sometimes ridiculous) ideas they come up with. It was a great listen overall, and the narrators did an excellent job bringing both characters to life.

Thank you to MeLisa Ryun and Literary Media Tours for the opportunity to listen to and review Fake It 'Til You Sleigh It.

About the Book

Rule #1 of Never fall for your lead actor.

Rule #2: See rule #1.

I’m Chase, director of Christmas movies and master of self-control… until now. My latest film is about to flop hard. With my career hanging by a thread, I’m forced to fake-date my lead actor Ethan “Walking Temptation” Barrett.

Cue a Florida holiday “vacation” with his oddball family — complete with a pet alligator. Between Ethan’s perpetual shirtlessness and us sharing one bed, my ice-queen reputation is melting faster than a frozen margarita on the beach.

His touch sets me on fire and suddenly, I'm forgetting all my rules.

I'm Ethan, rom-com heartthrob with a reputation. Fake-dating my uptight director? Not exactly on my Christmas list. But if this doesn’t work, my holiday acting career is over. If we fail, I lose everything. If we succeed… I might lose even more.


About MeLisa by MeLisa

MéLisa Ryun is our pen name, and we’re a husband-wife duo who’ve been finishing each other’s sentences (and steamy scenes) for nearly 30 years. We left the glitz of Hollywood for the glitter of Vegas. Despite calling Sin City home, we say what happens in Vegas should definitely not stay in Vegas—not when it comes to our scorching hot romcoms.

We spend our days in a death match of yoga and joke-writing. It’s like we’re competing in a bizarre reality show where the winner gets to avoid stepping outside into Satan’s armpit. We used to write for Hollywood and YouTube. Now we write books and social media posts. It’s basically the same thing, except now our audience can read 😂 Maybe we’ll trauma dump about our life in LA in a book someday. Or maybe we’ll just keep writing about fictional people with better lives than ours.

We write steamy open-door romcoms that’ll make your grandma blush and your girlfriends wink knowingly. Our characters? So real you’ll swear they’ve been eavesdropping on your life, with banter as finely honed as a cover model’s abs and sparks that’ll melt your e-reader. Our mission? To write sizzling chemistry, door-kicking-open steam, and enough beloved tropes to complete a Pinterest board. And the best part? Guaranteed satisfying happily ever after, every time.




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My Review for Good Spirits by B.K. Borison, read by Karissa Vacker and Will Watt

December 14, 2025  , , , ,  No comments


“Sometimes bridges aren’t meant to be rebuilt.”

Good Spirits was December's pick for #thatindiebookclub, and since I already had it on my Libro FM shelf, I decided to listen 🎧.

I loved it! Going in with zero expectations, I was completely blown away 😍. It's cute, ghostly 👻, magical ✨, and fun 🎄. I was so proud of Harriet as she finally stands up to her family. Nolan gives her the confidence to do so, and in return, she has a huge, positive effect on him 💛.

The narrators were fantastic—especially Nolan! I’m a sucker for an Irish accent 🇮🇪, and it made his character even more charming and enjoyable to listen to.

December seems to be my month for reading books featuring the undead 🧟‍♂️—but in a cutesy, romantic way 💕. Listening to Good Spirits gave me cosy, “relaxing by the fire under a warm blanket” vibes 🔥🛋️, especially with the rain 🌧️ (yes, more likely in the UK than snow ❄️) falling outside.

If you’re into fun, romantic Christmas stories with lots of ghostly magic ✨👻, join the party and grab a copy!

Thank you to Avon Books and Libro FM for the opportunity to listen to and review Good Spirits by B.K. Borison.

About the Book

He’s the Ghost of Christmas Past. She’s not exactly Scrooge.

Ghost of Christmas Past Nolan Callahan intends to spend this holiday haunting like every other—get in, get out, return to his otherwise aimless existence as a ghost awaiting the afterlife. But when he’s faced with Harriet York, the sweetest assignment he’s ever had, he suddenly finds himself wishing for a future.

Harriet York has no idea why she’s being haunted. She’s a good person—or, at least, she tries to be. A people pleaser to her core, she always does what’s expected of her. But as she and Nolan begin to examine her past, they discover there are threads that bind them together— and realize there might be more to moving on than expected.

With the deadline of Christmas Eve fast approaching, will they find the key to their futures in each other’s pasts? Or will they stay firmly in the present, indulging in their unexpected, spirited connection?

Filled with magic, mayhem, and cozy holiday charm


About B.K. Borison

New York Times, Sunday Times, and USA Today Bestselling author B.K. Borison is the author of cozy, contemporary romances featuring emotionally vulnerable characters and swoon-worthy settings. When she’s not daydreaming about fictional characters doing fictional things, she’s at home with her family, more than likely buying books she doesn’t have room for.




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Thursday, December 11, 2025

My Review by Witchcraft and Fury by T.T. Greenshaw

December 11, 2025  , , ,  No comments


"She felt a surge of affection for all of them; to think that, just six months before, they had been at each other's throats, and now they shared friendships that she considered unbreakable."

I'm finally getting around to writing my review for Witchcraft and Fury by T.T. Greenshaw. I really enjoyed this one, and although it has a slightly slow start while the world-building settles in 🏗️, the pace soon picks up and I raced through the second half ⚡️.

Solar, our seventeen-year-old protagonist, is a witch-in-training who’s sassy, bold, and full of confidence ✨. Nothing and no one is going to stand in the way of her training or her dream of becoming the witch she’s always imagined—even if it once felt impossible. I loved Solar's adventures; the friends she made along the way became like family 💛, and by the end, they all had each other's backs. “All for one” and all that! 🧙‍♀️

Full of magic, potions, weird creatures 🧪🦑, and even a flying carpet 🪄, Witchcraft and Fury feels like the start of something wonderful for this series.

Thank you to Love Book Tours and T.T. Greenshaw for the opportunity to read and review Witchcraft and Fury.

About the Book

Solar Carpenter is the first girl to study magic in a hundred years. And maybe the last.

For over a century, only high-born men have wielded magic in Ashwood. The nobility’s youngest sons are taught by the kingdom’s wizards in roving magic encampments. Witchcraft is forbidden, and the women who practise it persecuted.

Yet change is coming.

Solar Carpenter, a girl providing for her family any way she can, is plucked from her life of menial work and petty theft to study at an elite encampment. Under the guidance of one of Ashwood’s greatest wizards, she will learn in the field as a witch-in-training, using her powers to protect the kingdom.

Or die trying.

But what if something other than destiny lies behind her rise to magical prominence? Is Solar merely a pawn in an intricate game of thrones and power? Or the greatest force for change in a hundred years?

About Theo

Theo grew up in Cheshire, England, with twin passions for fantasy novels and history. He followed the latter to study Ancient History and Archaeology at university, researching civilisations from Ancient Mesopotamia to Medieval England. He now works as a customer experience consultant, but satisfies his interest in the ancient world through consuming endless history podcasts.


His love for the written word has led him to write Chronicles of the Divided Isle, found the Leeds Fantasy Book Club, and learn foreign languages, including Mandarin. When not writing, Theo can be found playing the saxophone in various jazz bands, dreaming up new stories on hikes, or touring the nation’s cafes.  








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Wednesday, December 10, 2025

My Review for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey, read by Tom Parker

December 10, 2025  , , , ,  No comments


“No, my friend. We are lunatics from the hospital up the highway, psycho-ceramics, the cracked pots of mankind."

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was November’s read for #classiclitbookclub, and I opted for the audiobook. I found a great copy on Libby narrated by Tom Parker, who absolutely nailed it 🎧.

I went in with zero expectations — classic me, never reading the synopsis 😜 — and it’s not a book I ever came across in school. So I was genuinely surprised when the opening chapters gave me The Green Mile vibes (I know it’s a book too, but I’ve only seen the movie!) 🎬.

The story was incredibly eye-opening. From what I understand, treatments like electric shock therapy, lobotomies, and simply locking people away for having mental health issues were all considered normal at the time ⚡🧠. Horrifying, honestly. And the wildest part is that it really wasn’t that long ago. We’ve come such a long way since then.

Nurse Ratched, though… wow. She should’ve been running a prison, not a ward. The level of control and cruelty she wielded was unbelievable 😳🚫.

I really loved Chief as the narrator. The fact that everyone assumed he was deaf and mute — giving him a front-row seat to everything — added such a clever layer to the story 👀.

I’d definitely like to watch an adaptation. One’s already been recommended to me, so I might give it a go soon 🎥.

About the Book

Tyrannical Nurse Ratched rules her ward in an Oregon State mental hospital with a strict and unbending routine, unopposed by her patients, who remain cowed by mind-numbing medication and the threat of electric shock therapy. But her regime is disrupted by the arrival of McMurphy – the swaggering, fun-loving trickster with a devilish grin who resolves to oppose her rules on behalf of his fellow inmates. His struggle is seen through the eyes of Chief Bromden, a seemingly mute half-Indian patient who understands McMurphy's heroic attempt to do battle with the powers that keep them imprisoned. Ken Kesey's extraordinary first novel is an exuberant, ribald and devastatingly honest portrayal of the boundaries between sanity and madness.

About Ken

Ken Kesey (1935–2001) was an American novelist and a defining voice of 1960s counterculture. He rose to prominence with One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, a novel inspired by his time working in a psychiatric hospital and participating in early psychedelic-drug studies. In the mid-’60s, Kesey helped spark the psychedelic movement through his cross-country trip with the Merry Pranksters aboard their wild, painted bus “Furthur,” hosting the legendary “Acid Tests.” Beyond his cultural impact, he wrote several other works — most notably Sometimes a Great Notion — and became known for blending rebellion, imagination, and storytelling into a uniquely American legacy.


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