Review: The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy

The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Osric Mordaunt is an assassin, a member of the Fyren Order. A lifetime of blows has damaged his seith (a magical ability which is enhanced through study and initiation into a magical order and the bestowing of a brand on the palm once the student graduates), the only person who might (and only might) be able to cure him before he loses his ability and is culled by his own Order, is Aurienne Fairhrim, a member of the Haelen Order - sworn enemies of the Fyren Order.

Aurienne's Order is one of healing, and she is one of their best, they are currently battling a pox which is spreading quickly and only seems to affect children, particularly the poor. They have petitioned the various rulers of the Kingdoms but they have so far received little help in funding a vaccination to prevent the pox. Osric tries to persuade, trick, and threaten Aurienne to look for a cure for his sickness without success so in desperation he offers to fund the full twenty million thrymsas required to fund the vaccine.

Two sworn enemies forced to deal with each other in pursuit of a mystical cure (which may not exist), cue plenty of smutty innuendo, witty sniping, many many violent deaths, and a begrudging attraction.

I absolutely loved this, funny, engaging, with great characters. Just be aware that this is part one (of two) and therefore not everything is resolved. I have already requested the second book from NetGalley.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: Murder on the Pilgrims Way

Murder on the Pilgrims Way by Julie Wassmer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.

Dolly is taking Pearl on holiday - but it's a surprise. They are staying at a recently renovated manor house owned by an Italian woman called Simona. She previously owned a similar establishment in Italy but had to sell it to pay off her ne'er-do-well husband Jake. Dolly and Pearl are two of the first guests of the Villa Pellegrini as it has been renamed, alongside several of Simona's close friends and her godfather Marshall, who happens to be an old friend of Dolly's. There's the rather brash Australian Lydia and her English fiancé Steve, former model Georgina, Dolly and Pearl, Simona's friend the slightly fey Anemone, close friend and wine buff Frank, and the staff Robert and his wife Maria.

Although initially charmed by the fabulous manor house on the banks of the river, Pearl is annoyed to discover that the weekend is billed as a weekend with celebrity chef Nico Caruso, as an instinctive chef herself, Pearl has no desire to be 'taught' recipes, especially by someone whose restaurant chain disintegrated in bankruptcy.

First impressions do not change Pearl's mind, Nico sweeps in and dismisses the dinner which Maria has spent all afternoon preparing, insisting that the guests eat something he has brought from Italy. Then later that evening after sparks fly (and not in a good way) across the dinner table the guests are interrupted by a very drunk Jake threatening to haunt Simona and never let her get away from him. After breaking a bottle of liqueur and hitting one of the guests Jake is laid out by Marshall's walking stick and left to sleep it off in the study over night. Unfortunately, the next morning Jake's body is found in the walk-in cold room, beaten around the head with a meat mallet he froze to death.

I enjoyed this until Pearl started her Columbo moment and decided that reading tea leaves would be a good method of identifying the murderer! Also I feel there was an unexplained conversation (or two) about not involving/telling the police that was never addressed or explained.

Anyway, I don't recall seeing this one as part of the tv series, maybe because of the spectacular leap of imagination that is required to identify the murderer based on the 'clues'.

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Review: The Shadow Step: A Detective Miller Novel

The Shadow Step: A Detective Miller Novel by Mark Billingham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

DS Declan Miller is a widower, his wife (also a copper) having been murdered. His step-daughter is a drug addict, not unusual in Blackpool, living rough and only occasionally deigning to call or meet Declan.

When a chance meeting in the park between a small-time drug dealer and a mild-mannered former squaddie just walking his dachshund ends up with the drug dealer tripping over his dog and falling into the pond he thinks nothing of it ... until the drug dealer turns out to be dead. Then a series of unfortunate events unfolds. Everyone thinks he killed the drug dealer, including the woman who controls all the drugs in Blackpool, and when his ex-wife's boyfriend is murdered in the front garden of their marital home it seems like he can't surely be innocent again?

This is the third DS Miller book, I haven't read the other two but I did read the final book in the Tom Thorne series (and my review upset my work BFF enormously) and I knew I enjoyed his writing so I jumped at the chance to read this ARC. Totally different, although also a detective who fights for justice - even if it means going against the establishment.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: May Day Murder

May Day Murder by Julie Wassmer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.

Faye Marlow used to be a famous Hollywood actress, but not many people know she came from Whitstable and her real name is Frankie Marshall. Although her fame has waned that doesn't stop Pearl's friend Nathan from inviting her to open the town's May Day festivities, complete with a showing of one of her most famous films. But Faye's appearance has ruffled a lot of feathers, she was a bit of a heartbreaker when she lived in Whitstable and some of her former paramours appear to be falling under her spell again.

First Pearl gets asked to close the restaurant for Faye and her entourage to eat lunch, then to change the venue to the house she has rented for the festivities, then to make special canapes for the evening drinks event. Later Nathan calls Pearl, Faye's diamond ring went missing from the safe, then was found behind a cushion, then Faye herself goes missing ... only to wind up dead, murdered and tied to the Maypole.

These early books are difficult to review because I have seen them on tv so there aren't many surprises. However, I still feel the murderer had a very poor motive and I think others had a much better reason.

Also, I am getting a little irritated by how much Julie Wassmer loves Pearl. I thought the choice of actors for the tv series was strange having read the first book because both Kerry Godliman and Nigel Lindsay are almost exactly the opposite looks wise of the characters in the books but I think it was probably to make them feel more relatable and 'normal'.

Anyway, even knowing the vague story I struggled to see the clues that would lead me to the murderer.



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Review: Just a Highland Fling

Just a Highland Fling by Naina Kumar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Neelu and her mother moved to LA when Neelu was just a child and she has had limited contact with her father, a doctor in Aberdeen ever since a disastrous trip to Scotland when she was ten years old. But for some reason she's travelled to Scotland to attend his wedding, something she knew nothing about only a few weeks ago.

Stopping off at a pub after failing to find her hotel in the pouring rain Neelu encounters a charming desi man, the attraction is instantaneous and mutual, but they agree it can only be one night, no names, no pack drill right? Until they meet the next day at the rehearsal dinner and it turns out that Jacob knows her father and his bride-to-be very well indeed.

When things go wrong at the wedding Jacob blames Neelu, and the two of them end up chauffeuring Neelu's father around the Highlands looking for his runaway bride. Can a one-night stand change your life? Can family forgive the mistakes of the past? Is it too late to start again?

Loved this, loved Jacob and I loved Neelu too, wonderful romantic read.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: The Call-Up

The Call-Up by K.C. Carmichael
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.

Brandon Bouchard is living in the shadow of his gregarious older brother Ander who is the goalie for the Buffalo Blizzards, the team that have already won the Stanley Cup once, while Brandon is still playing college hockey. Then his big chance comes, six weeks before the end of the NHL season he's called up to play for the St Louis Mules. Only problem is ... its the team where Ryan Christianson plays, Brandon's crush when he was fourteen years old and Ryan was billeted with Brandon's parents.

Already apprehensive and scared that he will be sent back to the college team before he's even played a game, or worse that he screws up so badly that he's sent down in disgrace, things don't go well when the first thing out of Ryan's mouth is 'Baby Bouchard' - now he's got an embarrassing nickname straight from day one.

For his part, Ryan has worked hard to hide the fact that he is gay from his teammates and the attraction he feels to Baby Bouchard should be avoided at all costs ... shouldn't it? But with Anders telling Brandon to call Ryan, and telling Ryan to look after his baby brother it seems like family and the fates are bringing them together.

I enjoyed this, but not as much as The Kennedy Effect, maybe I subconsciously felt that calling him 'Baby' Brandon gave too much of a older guy/younger guy vibe when they are only a few years apart in age?

Anyway, lots of hockey stuff that went right over my head, a chance to see Connor and Gavin again, and the Mules are a great team. Can't wait to see what the hints at the end of the book could mean for the next book.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: Caller Unknown

Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

DNF at 52%.

Simone is a successful London chef, her daughter Lucy is about to take a position at RADA and they have planned a road-trip/camping trip in Texas before she goes (Lucy was at a singing camp prior to this in Texas for a few weeks). However, in the middle of the first night Lucy is kidnapped. The next morning Lucy's kidnapper has some very explicit instructions for Simone to follow if she ever wants to see her daughter again. The bond between Simone and Lucy is strong, perhaps too strong on Simone's side, there is NOTHING she wouldn't do for her daughter, and that love is about to be tested. Despite her husband Damian's urging to call the police Simone decides to obey the kidnapper ...

I won't spoil what happens next but Simone ends up on the run.

I have absolutely adored Gillian McAllister's previous books and this was an auto request for me when I saw the ARC on NetGalley but despite several attempts I just can't get into it. Maybe because her previous books have had so many twists and turns I was anticipating either Lucy or Damian being behind the kidnapping (not a spoiler as I have no idea who the kidnapper was) and yet halfway in nothing much has grabbed my attention, other than thinking that Simone is actively making a bad situation worse.

So, with reluctance, and recognising that the book has already been published, I am giving up.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: Just Watch Me: A Rugby Romance

Just Watch Me: A Rugby Romance by Rosalind James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kane Mahuta, New Zealand Rugby Captain of the Blues and All Black is a widower with three children, his grandmother Maureen lives with him to help with the children.

Skylar Fairburn is a teacher (five year olds), she is a widow with three children and a cat, her grandfather Geoffrey lives with her to help with the children. Skylar (Miss Fairburn) is Kane's youngest daughter Georgia's teacher. When a distressing situation happens with a school rat at Kane's house he calls Miss Fairburn to explain the situation. Little does he know, shortly afterwards he meets Miss Fairburn at a speed-dating night he was dragged to by his sister, a journalist who wants to use him as a 'What Not To Do' humorous article.

When the two of them meet again, this time with Georgia in tow, the attraction is obvious, but relationships between teachers and the parents of children in their class are frowned upon. However, the two families are once more thrust together when it turns out Geoffrey and Maureen have been dating on the sly (having met while dropping off/collecting Kane and Skylar's children), and are now determined to both make it official and offload some of their responsibilities to have some fun.

If you ever watched the Brady Bunch, or the various films titled Yours, Mine, Ours, you can imagine the chaos and bickering that takes place when six children, two grandparents, two parents plus several of Kane's siblings are thrown into the mix.

This was just lovely, I loved Kane, I loved Skylar, the kids were appropriately sulky and delightful in equal measures, it was funny, there were some wonderful romantic scenes, there was drama and danger, a lot of toilet scrubbing (LOL), and some gorgeous holiday homes.

Another winner from the lovely Rosalind James.

I was fortunate enough to be sent an ARC by the author.

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Review: Be My Endgame

Be My Endgame by Zarah Detand
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alex Beaufort plays for Liverpool Rovers as a midfielder, son of a Lord he is handsome and charming with a posh accent. He and his parents are at odds, his father thinks Alex should forget playing soccer, which isn't a suitable game for an aristocrat, and get involved in politics. Oh and his father thinks Alex's bisexuality is just a phase (probably to be interesting) and wants him to settle down with a suitable woman from their circles. Alex hasn't told anyone he is bisexual, not even his BFF Jeff, another Liverpool Rovers player, despite Jeff having a gay brother.

Lee Taylor, is Manchester Athletic's top striker, two years older than Alex, the son of a woman with mental health issues, he has had to step up and act as father to his two younger sisters from a very early age after their father walked out on them and his mother couldn't cope. While he was playing football in Italy he was in a relationship with a man, but since returning to the UK he hasn't felt comfortable divulging his sexuality to anyone other than his BFF Oliver, Manchester Athletic's goalkeeper.

The two men met at training camp just before Lee got called up to Manchester Athletic (BTW I guess for legal reasons they can't use the real club names but it really jars) and a chance remark was misinterpreted. Since then they have been adversaries.

When Lee, Oliver, Jeff, and Alex get called up to England's World Cup team for training, the coach's ethos is clear, the players must become a team and resolve all differences, so he forces Lee and Alex to room together and pair up for all one-on-one training sessions.

I have to say I really enjoyed this enemies to love sports romance. Great characters, good pace, lovely love story. I just loved Lee and Alex. Can't wait to read more by Zara Detand.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Available on Kindle Unlimited.

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Review: International Relations

International Relations by Zac Hammett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Max is in the running for a promotion to an overseas role as an ambassador (at least ambassador adjacent), but he has been advised that candidates with a stable relationship will fare better. Since Max hasn't had time to date, devoting all his time to his job, his dog, and his dad, this could be a deal-breaker, especially since his closest rival is posh and has the perfect girlfriend.

Hunter is an American actor. His last relationship exploded so spectacularly, due to his boyfriend's jealousy of Hunter's success, that he had to move to the UK to find work. But now his visa is expiring and unless he can find someone to marry him pronto, he'll be deported.

Max approaches Hunter's agent to find him a fake boyfriend to get him through the interviews and she suggests Hunter. The next thing you know, there's a wedding, a weekend at Chevening where candidates are put through their paces, and interviews whilst simultaneously trying to convince the authorities that this is a genuine marriage.

This was pleasant enough but it didn't really grab me, it felt like it wanted to be funnier than it was. Also there were so many characters (eg Hunter's agent Doily and even Max's dad) that in comparison Max and Hunter felt a bit two-dimensional.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: A Perfect Summer in Starshine Cove

A Perfect Summer in Starshine Cove by Debbie Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.

Suzie never really fit in at home she takes after her mother who wandered Europe in a camper van before finding her true love in Starshine Cove, all she wanted to do was leave while her big brother and little sister loved it there and made a home. The last time Suzie came home was to nurse her mother through her terminal cancer, but after that she couldn't go back, not even for the funerals of her siblings.

But now, at forty-three she's coming home, or at least she thinks she is, presently she's stuck up a tree thinking this used to be easier and procrastinating, because what will her father George say? What about her brother-in-law Aiden? Her sister-in-law Connie? Her nieces and nephews? Will they blame her for staying away so long, for not being there at the time of unimaginable tragedy? In the midst of her procrastination a voice calls up asking if she needs help.

Guy is also procrastinating, he's come to meet someone at Starshine Cove he hasn't seen for many years and he has no idea what reception he will receive. He is very similar to Suzie, first the army then volunteering for NGOs all over the world, he gets itchy feet and doesn't like to stay in one place for long. These two wanderers really want to stay in Starshine Cove this time, but fate might have other ideas and a few surprises up her sleeve.

This is standard Debbie Johnson/Starshine Cove, a small village where everyone pulls together and is in everyone's business, some tragedy and some laughter, lots of cake, a fair amount of booze, and love. If you liked the others, you'll like this one. If you haven't read any before you can start here and if you enjoy small-town romances with quirky characters this is right up your street.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: The Paris Match

The Paris Match by Kate Clayborn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.

Since her divorce, Layla has immersed herself in her job as an itinerant medicalist (nope, not a scooby) covering sick and parental leave for months on end in different parts of the USA, the other thing she's done is avoid her former in-laws, and sister-in-law as much as possible, but when her former sister-in-law begs her to come to Paris for her destination wedding, citing 'you promised', she knows she can't avoid them any longer. She meticulously plans which activities she will attend (max 50%) and which outfits she will wear, erring on the bland and beige part of the colour spectrum.

But after the first night out with the bride to be and her chaotic BFF she learns from the cold and snooty Best Man that 'apparently' something Layla said has caused the bride to have cold feet ... and Layla needs to fix this STAT.

Griffin is the groom's best man, it has taken a lot to get him to leave the house and board a plane to France, but he would do anything for his childhood BFF, including paying for most of this wedding, and he is determined that the wedding will go ahead, he's not going to let some bitter ex-wife mess things up. But that might be easier said than done, especially when Layla's ex-husband turns up with his much younger new girlfriend, the groom's parents clearly dislike the Best Man, the bride's mother is passive-aggressive commenting on everyone's clothes, hair, make-up, and need for plastic surgery, the Maid of Honour is getting off with the limo driver, and all the guests are looking pityingly at Layla, wondering how she's coping.

Together Griff and Layla run interference, smoothing over issues, removing awkward moments, and generally getting things on track. But there are plenty of secrets bubbling under and everyone knows a wedding is a time for copious alcohol and regrets.

OMG the angst, it just rolled on and on and on. Why does Griffin feel he needs to do everything for the groom? Why does Layla feel she has to appease her ex-husband's family? Why are they both so pathetic? Other reviews have commented that this is an homage to Paris but I beg to differ, it's just pain and guilt and angst and DRA-MA, it put me off ever wanting to visit Paris.

If you like your romance angst-ridden, dripping with pain and guilt where everyone else is remarkably self-centred and obtuse then this is definitely one for you.


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Review: And Then There Was You

And Then There Was You by Sophie Cousens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Chloe Fairway had high hopes when she was a student at Oxford, an aspiring actress and writer she dreamed of a career in Hollywood, or at least TV. Instead she is a PA in a small publishing house for a boss who seems to think she's a dogsbody. Also, since finally leaving her controlling boyfriend of two years, Chloe is stuck back living with her parents.

When she gets an invitation to the ten year college reunion Chloe doesn't want to go. Her contemporaries seem to all live charmed lives, one married to a professional tennis player, another with two million followers on Insta, another a famous Hollywood director, and yet another a famous musician. Then she runs into an old acquaintance that she barely recognises, the woman has turned from a frumpy dowd into a vibrant attractive woman, and she owes it al to a mysterious exclusive dating agency. In desperation Chloe agrees to join the agency and meets Rob, the man of her dreams, he couldn't be any more perfect for Chloe - everything she ever wanted in a man. Except one thing.

This was fun, an off-the-wall concept, and a cute romance. I'll say no more.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: Murder in Rome

Murder in Rome by T.A. Williams
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Dan Armstrong, former Met police detective turned Private Eye and aspiring author of detective novels, is approached by an English actress, her wealthy uncle has fallen to his death from the tower of his holiday castle just outside Rome, the local police suspect an accident or suicide but she is convinced he was murdered. Dan agrees to travel to Rome with his trusty side-kick Oscar (the Labrador) to investigate, but no sooner has he arrived than a second body is discovered, and this time there can be no doubt that he was murdered.

This appears to be an inside job, the castle is too well secured for a random stranger to be able to walk in and attack someone, moreover since neither victim seems to have defensive wounds it suggests the murderer is someone they know. The castle only had 13 occupants at the time of the first death. The deceased three sons, their three wives and one granddaughter, his only daughter and her boyfriend, his PA, the chef, the housekeeper, and the part-time gardener. But what could be the motive? Could the missing will have something to do with it?

Mr Williams does well to suggest two likely suspects and he kept me guessing right to the end, but once explained the clues were there, dropped like little breadcrumbs for the reader to spot.

Anyway, another lovely cosy mystery complete with marvellous descriptions of the fabulous meals served at the castle.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: The Bones of Logan Rock

The Bones of Logan Rock by Sally Rigby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An archaeological dig in Cornwall finds human bones, unfortunately they aren't ancient Roman remains, these bones are only 30 years old.

Detective Inspector Lauren Pengelly and Detective Sergeant Matt Price soon discover the bones belong to a sixteen year old girl, who the Police previously believed had run away from home. Instead, she died at a Summer Solstice beach party in 1996.

What is even stranger is that several of the archaeologists working on the site were also at that party in 1996, being students at the nearby university. Then another body is found. Coincidence? Suicide? Murder?

This was yet another enjoyable mystery for Lauren and Matt, my niggles about her abrasiveness and his too-good-to-be trueness are assuaged - none of that here.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Available on Kindle Unlimited.

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Review: Wedding Manner

Wedding Manner by C.G. Macington
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Ice King and the Trauma Cowboy are getting married but Mommie Dearest is determined to make the whole thing a production, despite Max and Jax wanting a small, quiet affair.

Watch as Catherine buys an airline to stop them eloping (and that is just the start), discover what Alistair has been hiding, laugh at the hen weekend group, marvel at the lengths Preston will go to in order to protect Max.

Pleasant enough finale that wraps up the stories. I wouldn't read as a stand-alone, it's madcap and totally bonkers.

Read on mu Kindle Unlimited subscription.

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Review: Second Helpings

Second Helpings by Dylan Morrison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.

Sam Adelson is struggling to keep his family-owned restaurant, Silverman's Deli, open after a vicious review by a famous restaurant critic. more known for bringing down Michelin-starred restaurants than 75 year-old delis in Cleveland. The worst of it is that Sam knows most, if not all, of the review is lies, he's scoured the receipts and there is no record of anyone ordering the particular combination of dishes that were reviewed. Furthermore, he knows there aren't rats or cockroaches.

Then one day a blast from Sam's past walks in the door. Jake Thompson. Sam's childhood sweetheart. A man Sam hasn't seen or heard from in over ten years, although Sam may have cyber-stalked Jake a little in that time. But rather than attack Sam for what happened all those years ago Jake seems more inclined to want to be friends ... or maybe more.

Gradually the reader learns what happened all those years ago, can this couple get over the events of the past and make a life together?

I really enjoyed this, I liked Sam and Jake, but I felt the inevitable conflict was obvious from the start which is why this is a three and a half star review.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: A Twist in the River

A Twist in the River by Stig Abell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.

A woman goes missing beside the river, local residents and true crime podcast aficionados gather to help search for Claire, hoping desperately that she will be found alive.

A few days later Jake finds a woman's naked body in the river ... but it isn't Claire's. Soon the body count mounts but it is still unclear whether the women have been murdered or if they have coincidentally died of natural causes, because there are no signs of struggle, violence, or drugs in their systems.

Can Jake and his trusty team of sleuths solve the mystery?

As a serial moaner I have previously moaned about Jake's gang turning into Slough House, lurid descriptions of Livia's body and random descriptions of people's clothing for no reason. I am glad to say none of these pet peeves registered this time. Also, I didn't guess the culprit's identity until close to the end ... suddenly a few clues came together and I was just a few pages ahead of the reveal.

Overall, I enjoyed this mystery.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: Her Slap Shot

Her Slap Shot by Emma Kate
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.

Finley Blake is the first woman to ever be appointed head coach in professional hockey, and yes her dad is a big name in the industry but she earned her spot at Denver Yeti the hard way. Her ethos is all about accountability, don't lie about your fitness, don't hide injuries etc.

Beckett Kane is running out of time, yes he's won the league but he wants to lift that trophy with the captain's C on his jersey but his hip is causing him more and more difficulties, when he gets traded mid-season to the Denver Yeti it just makes everything harder.

Finley was against trading for Blake, even though she had been lobbying hard for a veteran defenseman to shore up their team, partly because he was her teenage crush, even helped her with her slap shot on one memorable afternoon, but she is overruled.

There is an instant attraction, but Finley knows the eyes of North America are on her, just one slip-up will have repercussions for all women in the industry, and Blake gets that.

I was enjoying this, the Yeti's PR team cook up a competition where players and staff are paired up to compete in a series of challenges, winners choose the charity the Yeti will support for the year. Of course Finley and Blake are paired up (although I think it would have been better if they were rivals) and end up spending a lot of time together practicing their 'talents' for the talent show, learning all about each other in a Mr and Mrs style quiz etc, and the attraction just keeps growing. So far so good.

What knocked this down from a four star to a three and a half were the smexy scenes. Just ick, ick, ick for me. Don't talk about her pretty p*ssy, call her a good girl and start trying to order her about on the first time - just no. There was just a whole chapter of me going ick ick ick. Luckily (for me) that was pretty much it. Overall, it felt like this was wedged in to meet some kind of spicy quotient and it didn't really mix with the rest of the book.

There's a bit of family angst with Finley's dad, and a bit of noble self-sacrifice, but I could live with that.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: A Degree of Murder: It's 25 years since they graduated...but revenge never gets old.

A Degree of Murder: It's 25 years since they graduated...but revenge never gets old. by Maz Evans
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The blurb

IT'S BEEN 25 YEARS SINCE THEY GRADUATED...BUT REVENGE NEVER GETS OLD.

The Class of 2000.
The Actress. The Techie. The Bimbo.
The Sportsman. The Bad Boy. The Writer. The Singer.
The Lecturer. The Musician. The Mature Student. The Weirdo.
But who is The Murderer?

I don't really know how to review this, not least because my ARC had some formatting issues which meant I didn't know whether paragraphs ended mid-sentence deliberately or because of formatting. In addition, the book jumps around from person to person and between graduation in 2000, the reunion in 2025 and the murder trial in 2026. None of the characters had a particularly strong tone so I didn't really know who was talking or which was their 2000 persona. There is also the confusion caused by not being told who has been murdered, who is accused of the murder and indeed, who is the narrator watching the trial.

In addition, despite being set in the UK this didn't really feel British (no I can't explain why and I had the same feeling about a book set in Australia so maybe it's a Me thing) maybe its because big graduation parties and reunions weren't really a thing when I was younger?

Anyway TL:DR the book was structured to keep the reader guessing.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: Flowers in July

Flowers in July by Anna Maynard
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Mary Roberts is a trainee doctor, she was in a six year relationship with Felix, also a doctor, until she discovered another woman's G-string in their bed. Now she's single and homeless whilst simultaneously worrying about her sister (single mother of three) and mother (issues with men and alcohol).

To escape her temporary lack of a home (and Felix her ex) Mary signs up for a week long wilderness expedition medicine course, only to discover that Felix has also signed up - allegedly to persuade her (yet again) to give him a second chance.

Despite the wilderness course being waaaay outside her comfort zone, Mary finds the course leader Abel is a reassuring and empowering presence, in his company she feels capable of stepping outside her comfort zone. However, Mary worries that she is mistaking Abel's niceness for something more.

I really wanted to like this but it just felt a bit meh. Abel just seemed to fall in love with Mary for no reason and was just perfectly kind and nice and supportive ALL THE TIME - he had no nuance or shadow or (frankly) personality. Mary was just dense. Men don't platonically hug you and sleep in the same bed unless they like like you! Also, to complete the trifecta of characters I didn't warm to, Mary's sister got on my nerves. Mary sends her money every month which her sister never acknowledges, every time Mary calls there's some drama with her nieces and nephews, then she has the audacity to complain.

Anyway, I enjoyed the wilderness course part but after that (and there was a lot) it just felt like Mary was being obtuse and there was manufactured drama, which made it drag.

Sorry, not for me.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: Death at King's Cross: A Four Queens of Crime Mystery

Death at King's Cross: A Four Queens of Crime Mystery by Rosanne Limoncelli
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.

Its May 1941, the world is at war. The famous novelist Agatha Christie is volunteering at a local hospital in the dispensary. The author Dorothy L Sayers is writing copy for the BBC. Ngaio Marsh has returned to New Zealand where she cares for her father and volunteers at a local hospice for recovering servicemen. Finally, Margery Allingham is in the countryside helping those who have been evacuated or just misplaced by the bombings of London. Each of these famous authors of detective novels comes across something disturbing: blackmail; a sister's disappearance; missing drugs; and ravings about Nazi-style brothels.

Meanwhile, DCI Lilian Wyles is called into the mysterious murder of a young woman at King's Cross station. She was found wearing a flimsy silk nightdress, a man's coat, and nothing else, not even shoes. Her appearance suggests she has been beaten and possibly starved. Then abruptly the murder is taken out of Scotland Yard's hands and taken over by MI5 - the dead woman was an MI5 operative undercover on a mission. When Lilian calls on the four famous novelists little does she know that each of them holds a small piece of a puzzle which could put all their lives at risk.

This is apparently the second book in the Four Queens of Crime Mystery series, I didn't read the first book and there is no need to have anything other than the knowledge that these four women wrote detective novels to be able to read and understand this. I assume some of the story is based on fact (ie that DLS worked for the BBC) and other parts are fiction.

I enjoyed this, despite the coincidences and not having read the first book, and would definitely read more in the series.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: In Your Court

In Your Court by Kit Haley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit...#

For once the blurb really nails it.

A sweet, steamy AF contemporary MM romance! Find inside: truckloads of hot, witty banter, exploration of queer solidarity, lots of tennis details but very little actual tennis, and amusing Australian/American cultural confusion.

Matteo Russo is an Australian tennis player. He was extremely promising as a young player, won a few junior tournaments, but a car accident left him injured and ever since he has struggled to reclaim his previous rankings. To boot, Mat is the only tennis player to openly state he is gay, a statement that brought him a lot of nasty comments and has made him feel like The Gay Tennis Player - every press conference, win or lose, he gets asked whether his sexuality had anything to do with the result.

As a junior, Matteo's greatest rival was Miles Callahan, a tall arrogant American with model good looks and oodles of money at his disposal. Miles now has endorsements aplenty and is ranked world number 5 (or it could be 3 - I can't remember and can't be bothered to check). Of course what made it even more galling was that Miles ticked every box on Mat's mythical checklist for a boyfriend.

When the two of them meet at the French Open, Mat puts up a good fight, but loses two sets to one. When Miles makes a sneering comment Mat points out that Miles wouldn't find it so easy without his five star hotel, chauffeur driven car, sports therapist, coach, manager etc, etc and challenges him to live like a 'normal' player.

When Mat gets to London in preparation for Wimbledon he gets a text from a number saved in his contacts as 'Scrunchie'. It's Miles accepting the challenge, he's come to London determined to stick to Mat's budget, forgoing his team and comforts. But as they bond over laundry and start practising together Mat comes to realise that Miles doesn't seem him as broken or defective, Miles sees him as his most difficult opponent, one who is impossible to beat when at the top of his game.

Although the film Wimbledon gets slated in this book for being inaccurate, I must confess to loving it (even tried to watch it the other day but refused to pay £3.49 to stream a 20-year old film) and this gave off similar vibes. There's lots of family angst and I felt it went on a bit too long towards the end but I loved Mat and Miles, two genuinely nice guys.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.


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Review: Murder-on-Sea

Murder-on-Sea by Julie Wassmer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Christmas is coming in Whitstable and Pearl Nolan is eagerly awaiting her son Charlie's return from Germany for the holidays. Meanwhile, someone is sending poison pen Christmas cards to some of the locals with some harsh (if true) comments. However, things escalate when earl's accountant Diana collapses at a charity church fundraiser right in front of Pearl and DCI Mike McGuire. After she is rushed to hospital and later dies, it turns out that Diana was poisoned with antifreeze in her glass of Jenever - a tipple which she had brought to the church for her own personal use.

Suspects and motives abound. Diana was at odds with her new neighbours, a young couple who have built a treehouse which completely overlooks her house. She was heard having a heated argument/discussion with the local GP, and it was common knowledge that she subsidised her son and his family's extravagant lifestyle. Not forgetting of course that as the local accountant Diana knew everyone's financial business and may well have been privy to financial woes or even wrongdoing.

Since Mike was a witness he can't investigate the murder officially, but unofficially if he can help Pearl solve the case and get one over on the detective in charge of the case he'd be very pleased.

This was okay. I felt like there were a lot of red herrings thrown in simply to confuse matters, lots of strangers, lots of secret meetings, lots of secrets. Again, while the murderer's identity was plausibly explained I feel that could have been true about any of the other suspects. Also, and probably more damning, this morning (having only finished it at 11pm the night before) I wasn't entirely sure if the murderer was also the poison pen Christmas card writer - which again is because as a reader I didn't get that 'AHA' moment when all the random clues suddenly dropped into place and there could only be one suspect. Maybe that is more realistic but it didn't give me the moment of satisfaction I want from a mystery when it's solved.

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Review: The Whitstable Pearl Mystery

The Whitstable Pearl Mystery by Julie Wassmer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.

Pearl Nolan owns a restaurant/bar in Whitstable. A single mother, she had to give up her burgeoning career in the Police when she became pregnant, but now her son is at University she has set up a detective agency on the side. Her first customer is a rather unsavoury man who claims to have invested money with a local oyster catcher called Vinnie Rowe but has yet to see any return on his money. Pearl knows Vinnie, so without actually accepting the job she goes to see him and find out what is happening. At first she can't find him anywhere on his boat but while pulling up the anchor to bring his boat into shore she discovers his dead body weighed down by the anchor.

The police, in the form of DFL (down from London) DCI Mike McGuire seem convinced that Vinnie's death was an accident, or possibly suicide, but Pearl is convinced it was murder, there's no way a seasoned sailor like Vinnie would accidentally get his foot caught up in the anchor rope and then fall overboard.

As Whitstable gets caught up in the annual Oyster Festival Pearl and Mike lock horns as she tries to uncover who killed Vinnie, and why. An investigation which will lead her far closer to home than she could ever imagine.

I bought this when it was on special offer at 99p because I enjoy the gentle (dare I say cosy) tv series based on the books. Other than completely changing the physical appearance of both Pearl and Mike beyond all recognition, from what I remember the tv series stays pretty close to the book. Also, I live not far from Whitstable and have been known to drive DFL for lunch in Seasalter.



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Review: A Murder in Eight Cocktails

A Murder in Eight Cocktails by Kelly Mullen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Willa and Marty are retired, she was an interior designer and he was something horticultural, their only son has flown the nest and Willa is feeling a little lost. Marty has enthusiastically embraced bird watching as a hobby and Willa has started a podcast.

The couple are invited to the opening of an exclusive cocktail bar where guests are served a series of special cocktails at precisely timed intervals. But no-one expects their host to plunge to his death from the rooftop during the evening, or for him to send what appears to be a suicide text to several of the other guests.

Willa is convinced their host was murdered, and when the police decline to get involved she and her ex-husband Paul, who was the host's business partner, decide to take matters into their own hands.

I struggled to get into this book, despite liking Kelly Mullen's previous book This Is Not A Game, and was about to DNF it when it suddenly got more interesting as Willa and Paul and (reluctantly) Paul start matching the timeline to when they received each cocktail, I could see that this would be like one of those Logic Problems where you have to match (say) the first name, second name, house colour and car type based on a series of clues. Unfortunately, after that spark it fizzled out again. I think for my taste there were too many suspects, too many motives, and therefore when the murderer was revealed it didn't really feel that they were the only suspect that could possibly fit all the clues.

Probably more importantly, I didn't really like Willa, Marty, or Paul and I found it difficult to keep the suspects separate in my mind. Pleasant enough but not one I would read again.

Contains the history and recipes for several cocktails.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: You & Me and You & Me and You & Me

You & Me and You & Me and You & Me by Josie Lloyd
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.

Jules and Adam have been married for nearly twenty-five years and have two teenage children. Their lives haven't been easy, Adam's parents died in a car accident, and his dad was in a lot of debt when he died. Their son Liam was badly injured in a tragic accident and Adam passed up the opportunity to go into partnership with his best friend, a decision that cost him millions. Jules has run up thousands in credit card debt after her pop-up catering business folded during COVID, something she is scared to confess to Adam.

After yet another coulda, shoulda, woulda argument between them Adam retreats to his shed, which is jam-packed full of stuff he's never thrown away, and digs out an old mix tape he made for Jules when they first started dating and puts it into an old cassette player. Suddenly he is transported back in time to the moment he gave Jules the tape.

Adam shares his finding with Jules who is initially sceptical, Adam has always been a bit of a geek and a fan of sci-fi and time travel. But she humours him and also finds herself transported back in time. However, Jules takes the opportunity to make one small change, telling past Adam that she prefers smooth-shaven men (because present day Adam has a straggly grubby old man beard) and lo and behold when she returns to the present Adam no longer has a beard.

The mix tapes, something they used to record for each other all the time, bring the two of them together, but soon the little change they make, inadvertently or deliberately, start to mount up, but just like that chilling film The Butterfly Effect, every change they seemingly make for the better has unintended consequences.

I started this a long time ago and lost interest, but picked it up again a few days ago and raced through it. Proof, if needed, that its often the reader not the book at fault when things don't gel. Anyway, I love a time-travel story and how changes have consequences. Loved this.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: It’s Not What You Think

It’s Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nadeeka is convinced her boyfriend Jamie is cheating on her, she heard a woman's voice in the background when she called him, he said it was the HR manager at work but she could hear a train go past in the background - their house is near the railway line whereas his office is not. Clearly there is a woman in her house. Full of righteous fury, she won't be cheated on again, she storms home (getting stopped by the police for speeding on the way) only to discover the house is a crime scene and Jamie is dead ...

But that is only the start of the weirdness, Nadeeka's view of Jamie is about to be challenged and everything she thought she knew turns out to be wrong.

I have read Clare Mackintosh's DC Morgan series and really enjoyed it, so I took a chance on this based on the blurb. Then forgot about it. Then picked it up and for some unknown reason thought it was by Gillian McAllister (even though I thought it was weird to have two ARCs by the same author available at the same time). Anyway, picked it up on Sunday, started reading and finished on Monday evening. Loved it, thought there was a slight similarity to McAllister's Famous Last Words but still very enjoyable and full of suspense, keeps you guessing right to the end.

Loved it. So if any of you are Gillian McAllister fans I think you'll love this too.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: The Dark Heart

The Dark Heart by Neil Lancaster
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A drug dealer converted to a right-wing cause. A Jewish author and idealist murdered in a car bomb with all the hallmarks of a Islamic fundamentalist group. A tip-off that one of the dealer's contacts may have been sharing details of his political affiliations. A faceless contract killer known only as The Cashier. Soon three more people are dead, including one of Barney's contacts.

Can DS Max Craigie and his team establish the links between these seemingly unconnected deaths before the next victim is executed?

Yet another dark and gritty, fast-paced police procedural that kept me on the edge of my seat. Loved it.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me

This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

All the feels. I am chalant.

This is epic in all senses of the word. 481 pages of fights and magic and politics and machinations and clothes and more handsome men than you would ever see in real life.

Maggie is a very normal girl from Texas who wakes up one day naked in a ditch - in the middle of a city she recognises very well - its the setting for her all-time favourite unfinished dark fantasy novel series (its her favourite finished or unfinished - this just happens to be unfinished), the kingdom of Kair Toren. She has read the two books in the series multiple times over the years, she can recite parts of it verbatim, and this may be the only thing that can save her in this dangerous kingdom. Oh, and the fact that apparently she can't die, well she can, but then she comes back to life!

At first Maggie tries not to do anything to disturb the timeline, but when she starts to make friends with characters who she knows will die (often horribly), she starts interfering, just a little, then a little bit more. But the timeline is fighting back and Maggie is going to have to do something monumental to prevent Kair Toren descending into a cataclysmic war.

I loved this, and it reminded me of Stephen Donaldson's Mordant's Need series which I read and reread many, many times. It's got magic and plots and violence and its just wonderful. If you read my reviews you know I rarely give five stars, not even four and a half (162 in total out of 5,610 books) so when I say its a five star book you better believe I loved it. When I read that Ilona Andrews were working on Maggie 2 I was gutted because I want Hugh 2 - but now I would be ecstatic to get either.

The Book Devouring Horde will be in seventh heaven.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: Conflict of Interest

Conflict of Interest by C.G. Macington
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Preston York is the brilliant second York son, always viewed as the dilletante, the clothes horse etc while all the dynasty's expectations fall on his older brother. When goaded by his father and brother that he wouldn't last five minutes in the ER he takes that bet - although being Preston he has his scrubs tailored and still wears ridiculously expensive shoes (Gucci loafers).

Dr Lucas Silva is from the other end of the spectrum financially speaking, but through hard work he has worked his way up to Chief Resident at St Jude's hospital, he's not going to let the Chairman's entitled son swan his way around the hospital pretending to be a doctor - he's going to give Preston every scut job he can. In the meantime Preston is determined to prove everyone wrong.

This is a lovely opposites attract, finding your calling romance. My only gripe would be it was a teensy bit too similar to the first book.

Read on my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

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Review: In Her Own League

In Her Own League by Liz Tomforde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Reese Remington is now the first female owner of a major league baseball team, having been passed the ownership by her grandfather. There was a delay in her taking over (due to her sleazy ex) and her grandfather made some expensive decisions in the meantime which means that Reese has to make a lot of budget cuts to try and claw the team back into the black. First on her hit list is the team's manager Emmett Montgomery, his current salary might be ludicrously small, but as one of the most successful managers in the league with his contract due for renewal that is about to change. Also, her grandfather pandered to him to a ridiculous extent, refurbishing the team plane to accommodate his daughter when she was nannying for their star pitcher etc.

Emmett thinks his new boss is sexy AF, but she seems to hate him and constantly brings up the fact that SHE will be negotiating his new contract. He is finally happy, doing a job he loves with his daughter settled, and the two players he considers to be pseudo-sons in close proximity. The last thing he wants to do is move elsewhere.

This is a fantastic enemies to lovers, forbidden romance with lots of politics with the advisory board not wanting a woman running the team etc. My only issue was that it felt very similar to Irresistible You by Kate Meader, just substitute hockey for baseball and veteran player for manager. Nevertheless, a very enjoyable romance with a wonderful MMC who 100% supports the FMC once they get on the same page. A single Dad, father-figure and all-round nice guy, no wonder readers wanted him to have his own book.

Read on my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

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Review: Abby Offsides

Abby Offsides by Anna McCallie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When Abby's fiancée cheats on her, then leaves her for the other woman shortly before their wedding she knows she has to leave Boston and her job at the Red Sox, on a whim she moves to Liverpool to be with her BFF Amina and applies for a marketing job with Mersey FC, the joke is she knows absolutely nothing about football (or soccer as she calls it).

On the day of her interview Abby has a jokey encounter with a stranger who later turns out to be Lachlan Ramsay, Mersey's latest signing, a world-famous footballer from Scotland. There is an instant vibe, even a connection, but Abby has been told in no uncertain terms that the job is not a stepping stone to becoming a WAG. Moreover, Lachlan is married, and Abby has just come out of a six-year relationship.

But it's difficult when you find someone who gets your sense of humour, whose face lights up when you enter a room, whose eyes catch yours wherever you go, and soon Abby starts thinking what if?

This was a book of two halves for me (football pun intended). I really liked the start, I liked the banter between Lachlan and Abby and I liked the way in which they tried very hard to keep it professional. However, about halfway through it deteriorated for me, things became repetitive, neither Abby nor Lachlan had the guts to say anything meaningful, and they may not have crossed the line but it certainly looked and felt that way. The book picked up again towards the end but by that point I thought they were both quite immature people.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: Watch Them Fall: A must-read Scottish police procedural from one of tartan noir's greatest

Watch Them Fall: A must-read Scottish police procedural from one of tartan noir's greatest by Marion Todd
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

DI Clare Mackay is fighting fires on several fronts. First, her partner Al has taken on a new job which keeps him away from home several days a week. She was offered his old job but wanted to stay true to her roots, which unfortunately means she needs to deal with Superintendent Meakin's disappointment. Second, there is planned protest march on Saturday through St Andrews against an application to build 50 luxury homes in the area. Third, a body has just been fished out of the river, it could just be a tragic accident, someone falling in whilst under the influence, but it could also be murder. And then, the cherry on the cake, Clare gets asked to divert her time to placating a wealthy couple (the ones planning to build the luxury homes) about a house break-in, where nothing was taken. Apparently the Superintendent believes that the couple, Rex and Erika Freeman, may have been targeted by the protestors.

It seems as though the cases might all be connected, but can Clare solve the crimes in time?

I can't believe this is the tenth book, or that it took me so long to start reading it! As usual, the mundanity of home life is interspersed with police legwork, theories, wagon wheels, and politics. Thoroughly enjoyable.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: A Deadly Episode

A Deadly Episode by Anthony Horowitz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A producer has decided to film one of Anthony Horowitz's books about the private detective Daniel Hawthorne in Hastings with Anthony and Daniel as consultants. The director has chosen to bring in an external screenwriter who has some unusual ideas, thinking the detective story (about a woman who hits two young children while driving) is the least interesting part of the book and showcasing her own political beliefs.

From the start it appears that the actor playing Hawthorne is almost universally disliked. He has slept with several of the people on set, had the runner fired, treats the actor playing Anthony with contempt, and ignores the director's instructions. Frankly it's no surprise to anyone when he is found murdered, by a sharp Japanese knife in the back of the neck. The Hastings police are not familiar with murder investigations and invite Hawthorne to assist on the case.

I haven't read any of the preceding five books in this series, but I very much enjoyed reading The Marble Hall Murders by the same author earlier this year so I decided to request an ARC when I sat this on NetGalley. This was an odd book for me. A book written by an author which features himself as a character, who is himself being played by an actor in a film about a fictional book which the author is supposed to have written *breathe*.

Horowitz appears to be the bumbling Holmes to Hawthorne's Sherlock, he misses lots of clues, gets the wrong end of the stick, and is being played as an overweight greasy-looking scruff in comparison to the movie star good looks of the actor playing Hawthorne. Generally I am not a fan of Sherlock Holmes (in any of his written or film/TV adaption guises), I find the 'telling' rather than showing (because only he sees the clues) rather wearing. However, I rather enjoyed this, there was a logic to Hawthorne's deductions and most of them weren't too hard to see (in retrospect). I would definitely read more in this series, particularly when they are set in parts of the world that I know.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: The Lone Island Mystery

The Lone Island Mystery by Emylia Hall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pippa Grant is the caretaker on Lone Island nature reserve when she finds the body of a young man, Axel Marks washed up on the shore. The police think it may be suicide, or an accident as there is evidence that he had been drinking heavily, but she is not convinced and calls in Jayden and Ally to find the truth.

Axel had been a soldier in Afghanistan, discharged on medical grounds, he had slept rough and moved around for a few years. Most recently he had been staying in a decrepit camper van parked in the grounds of Porthmerrin House, where his mother had been a housekeeper. Apparently the owner, Edward Grey had asked his son Lucas to find Axel and invite him back. In fact it was Lucas who raised the alarm when Axel went missing.

As Ally and Jayden dig deeper there seem to be lots of secrets and numerous people have motives for (possibly) killing Axel. Can they get to the bottom of things and will DS Skinner and DC Mullins be a help or a hindrance?

This was a hugely enjoyable mystery with lots of red herrings. If you've enjoyed other books in this series then I'm sure you'll love this too.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: The Statistically Unlikely Rebound: A Grad or Die Romance, Book #1

The Statistically Unlikely Rebound: A Grad or Die Romance, Book #1 by Parker Elling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Daisy Zhang-Wainwright is dumped by her boyfriend Ethan only a few weeks before she was due to join him from California at MIT, she'd even shipped some of her belongings to his place.

She has to find a new apartment in a hurry, then discovers that her downstairs neighbour is Ethan's bête noir Professor Lars Berg-Anderson who apparently got caught in a compromising position with an undergraduate in one of the labs, excluded Ethan from a project he had worked on, and is generally a bad egg. But when Daisy actually meets Lars she discovers he might be a bit taciturn but he is also very kind, and the more she gets to know him the less likely it seems that he did all the things Ethan suggested.

Then she discovers at a faculty drinks party that Ethan had been cheating on her with another woman, her first reaction is to pretend that she and Lars are now dating ... and Lars agrees!

I loved this fake dating STEM romance, devoured it!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: Misery Hates Company

Misery Hates Company by Elizabeth Hobbs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Miss Marigold Manners' world collapses when she discovers that her beloved (if somewhat flaky) parents squandered their money before dying of the influenza. Instead of finishing her degree in classical studies followed a career in archaeology, Marigold has been advised to throw herself on the mercy of friends and distant family to help her eke out her paltry annuity of $100 a year. There is an alternative, marriage to the handsome, debonair, and charming Cab Cox, but Marigold knows that marriage, even to someone she loves as much as Cab, would mean the end of her dreams of independence and travel.

One letter from a previously unknown relative catches her eye. It talks of a great wrong done to Marigold's mother that must be made right and it comes from ... Great Misery Island on the New England coast.

Elizabeth Hobbs says in the author note at the end that this is an homage to the great classic Cold Comfort Farm and I totally see that - in fact for at least the first half of the book I thought it was a barely concealed rip off as Marigold uses modern thinking to coax and cajole her long-lost (semi-feral) family into the 1890s.

But in this book the something nasty in the woodshed is something very nasty indeed, a young girl is drowned, and the one of Marigold's relatives is found dead ... all the signs point to Marigold, can she clear her name and uncover the murderer(s)?

I thoroughly enjoyed this once I got over the Cold Comfort Farm similarities, lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing right to the end.

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Review: Murder After Christmas

Murder After Christmas by Rupert Latimer
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

DNF at 18%.

I gave this a second try, but the writing was so arch I couldn't bear it - nearly 20% in and no murder, although I don't fancy Uncle Willie's chances of surviving to the New Year since so many relatives appear to actively wishing/plotting his death.

Normally I love a Golden Age detective story, I even love parodies but this ... not so much.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: The Edge of Darkness

The Edge of Darkness by Vaseem Khan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Persis Wadia has been exiled from Bombay to the Naga Hills District where she is staying in a crumbling colonial-style hotel. Her lover, the Englishman Archie Blackmore lies in a coma in Bombay, being tended to by his wife. Things are all very quiet, despite the Naga people's rebellious activities in the surrounding jungle, until one of her fellow guests, a prominent local politician, is found murdered in his locked room - decapitated in his bath with his head nowhere to be found!

Given the circumstances Persis is sure that one of the guests or staff at the hotel must have committed the crime. Was it the politician's loyal aide? The American husband and wife missionaries? The American businessman? The Naga woman who owns the hotel? And how did they murder him when the door was locked?

While this took me a long time to get into, once it got going the action was think and fast. Once more, Persis seems to get injured an inordinate amount of times over the course of just a few days, the woman must have a skull of titanium!

I was congratulating myself on guessing the identity of the murderer (albeit not necessarily for the right reasons) but (without spoiling the plot) the ending felt a bit like everything including the kitchen sink.

I enjoyed this, but not as much as the previous book.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: Deal Breaker

Deal Breaker by Susie Tate
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lady Poppy Sterling is a diminutive ray of sunshine, while organising charity fundraisers for her family's personal foundation she also interviews celebrities on the red carpet and has a reputation as a bit of a party girl, which might have been true when she was just starting out but now she takes her responsibilities seriously.

Rory Wallace is a Scottish rugby player, and Poppy's brother Rafe's best friend. Poppy has had a crush on him for years, ever since he patiently helped a dyslexic Poppy with her homework. Five years ago they became an item and then ... he ghosted her. Pathetically, she still fancies the pants off him and his very presence on the red carpet is likely to turn her into a gibbering wreck.

Rory thought Poppy was the one, but when she deliberately set him up with an interview when he was drunk he realised she was just a scheming aristocrat pretending to slum-it to get a story. He hates her party-girl persona, the drinking, and the partying. Living up to the Scottish stereotype Rory is grumpy and avoids the press at all costs.

Now the two of them are being flung together in a worthy cause, a Guinness World Record breaking attempt as a fund-raiser for Motor Neurone Disease which affects one of Rory's best friends and former teammates.

Will these two get a second chance at romance in this opposites attract, best friend's little sister romance? Or will Rory only see what's in front of his face and listen to false friends? I think you know LOL.

What a wonderful gift Susie Tate gave me - an ARC for Valentine's Day, I devoured it despite having many, many overdue ARCs that I should have been reading instead.

I received an ARC from the author via BookFunnel.

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Review: On Thin Ice: A BRAND NEW hockey player x pop star romance from USA Today Bestseller Kelly Jamieson for 2026

On Thin Ice: A BRAND NEW hockey player x pop star romance from USA Today Bestseller Kelly Jamieson for 2026 by Kelly Jamieson
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

DNF at 12%.

I normally love a Kelly Jamieson sports romance so I don't know why I couldn't get into this one - didn't even make it as far as the life-changing accident. Accordingly, I won't be posting my review on Amazon et al as it isn't fair.

I received an ARC from he publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: Murder at the Homecoming

Murder at the Homecoming by Merryn Allingham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.

Flora and Jack have been invited to their neighbour Ambrose Finch's house to meet his long-estranged son Lucas who had been found living and working in Italy. However, the party is disturbed, first by one of the guests almost coming to blows with another, and then by the death of Rita, a local woman who was catering the party, from arsenic poisoning.

Although Flora and Jack are determined to stay out of it, they are separately approached by Rita's friend Alice and Ambrose's assistant's girlfriend to investigate the death, especially when it seems the local police are too caught up in another murder involving a prominent member of the local community.

It seems that Ambrose had taken the homecoming party as an opportunity to mend fences by inviting some of his business enemies, and had encouraged his assistant to do the same, so there is no shortage of potential suspects.

Once again Flora and Jack put their lives on the line to discover the truth.

I enjoyed this, I always like reading about the minutiae of life in bygone decades and the 1950s/1960s is not one that I see often. I also enjoy the cosy mystery. However, I thought the plot was extremely obvious, almost before I even opened the book, which distracted somewhat from my enjoyment. Also, is it just me or does Charlie trash his bicycle in every book?

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: Beast Business

Beast Business by Ilona Andrews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A novella featuring Illusion Prime Augustine Montgomery and Diana Harrison. Diana visits Augustine's PI business because someone has stolen a very rare otherworld creature from her family. The creature is only a baby and will die unless it receives its mother's milk.

Their search for the creature puts both their lives in danger and will result in them exposing their true selves to each other.

I enjoyed reading this, but I have to be honest a week later I could barely remember anything about it - better read after one of the novels I suspect. But anyhoo, its Ilona Andrews so of course its good.

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Review: The Last Page

The Last Page by Katie Holt
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

DNF at 28%.

Ella has worked at an iconic New York bookstore forever and the late owner promised her he would leave her the store in his will, instead he left it to his estranged grandson Henry.

When Henry (some kind of financial turn-around expert) starts to look at the books he realises that his grandfather has been understating how badly the store is performing and it basically can keep going for less than one month, even if they make drastic cuts.

I appear to be in a bit of a book slump, last night I restarted several books and discarded them all - so it is probably me and not the book. But I find it hard to like either of the main characters and the side characters are awful and probably should all be sacked!

Anyway, I gave it two goes and I can't get into it so I am giving up here.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: Heart Racer

Heart Racer by Megan Avery
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

DNF at 14%.

Apologies, this is just not for me. I loved the idea of a STEM/Jock second-chance romance, enemies to love but after two attempts I just can't get engaged.

Maybe I am just too old for high school romances.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: The Proposition of the Season

The Proposition of the Season by Michelle Kenney
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Josephine Fairfax is a bespectacled, bookish young woman of twenty-eight. After three failed seasons she is most definitely on the shelf and has retired to live in the family home with her eldest (insufferable brother) and younger siblings. She spends her days writing romantic fiction and letters to her imaginary beau.

When she discovers her brother is determined to marry off her younger sister Matilda to Lord Huntingly, a man none of them have ever met, about whom there are murky rumours about a duel which resulted in him and his opponent fleeing abroad, Josephine knows she must act. Matilda has no interest in marriage or children, she wants to be a pirate! Marrying her off to an unsuitable man would be cruel. So Josephine suggest to Lord Huntingly that if all he needs is a wife with the Fairfax good name he should take her instead. Surprisingly, the rather drunk Lord Huntingly agrees.

However, Josephine is determined to discover the truth about the duel and her investigations start to point at her fiancé as being not only in the wrong but also pursuing him and killing him in a street brawl in Italy. If that is true how could she possibly marry him?

This is the third book about the Fairfax sisters, although I haven't read the others. Initially I found the writing a bit stilted and it also felt like a mash-up of several books by Georgette Heyer (Frederica where she suggests Alverstoke should marry her instead of her sister, and Huntingly is a bit like Damerel in Venetia) and probably a bit of Jane Austen as well. That feeling wore off as the story progressed but I must say I found Josephine's character a bit confusing. After coming across like Mary Bennett to start with she suddenly starts berating Huntingly and her older brother which seemed out of character.

Anyway, this was pleasant enough and perhaps if I had read the two previous books I would have had a better understanding of Josephine's character.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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