Review: One Night at the Château: Escape to Provence with the stunningly feel-good and romantic new story from the bestselling author!

One Night at the Château: Escape to Provence with the stunningly feel-good and romantic new story from the bestselling author! by Veronica Henry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.

Connie's husband has left her for an older woman. Her children have left home for university/work. Her job as a magazine editor ended when the magazine folded and she is totally overwhelmed by everything, struggling to get out of bed. Then her godmother Lismay calls from her chateau in Provence, France, she desperately needs Connie's help.

Lismay's husband needs a hip replacement but just before they are due to come to London for the operation he has sacked the chef, which Lismay thinks is a delaying tactic. She begs Connie to come out and run the chateau for a few months while they are in London. Connie spent many holidays at the chateau with her parents, and one idyllic summer working there, which culminated in a passionate night with the son of the owners of the vineyard next door. Although they both knew it would never be more than one night, Connie still recalls that night fondly and wonders 'what if?'.

When Connie arrives she discovers the once shabby-chic chateau is now just shabby. Everything is a bit grubby and/or broken. Online reviews are scathing, comparing it to Fawlty Towers.

Connie sweeps in a gets the chateau back up to standard, bringing the website up-to-date and generating new ideas for weekend events. Gradually, she begins to feel like her old self. Then she discovers that her one-night stand, Remy, has retired from international rugby and has returned to help run the family vineyard. Connie is surprised, flattered, and perhaps a little suspicious that Remy remembers her and seems keen to renew their acquaintance.

Interspersed with Connie's story is that of Lismay and her husband, and how they came to buy the chateau in the 1980s. Looking at the blurb for other books by Veronica Henry, this seems to be a common trait, weaving two linked stories thirty or so years apart.

Everything seems to be going well, Connie has got her mojo back, she's threatened her ex-husband with legal action unless he returns the money she inherited from her mother (and invested in the marital home) from the house proceeds before splitting the remainder equally, the chateau is thriving - and then she discovers that Remy has 'betrayed' her. I'll be brutally honest, I have no idea why Connie got so angry/upset and that probably knocked this down from a four star review.

Other than the conflict issue, I loved this, just like biting into a buttery French pastry. I mean who doesn't dream of escaping to Provence, swanning around a chateau, being able to cook fabulous meals at the drop of a hat and having a hunky French ex-rugby player with his own vineyard as a lover?

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits

The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits by Jennifer Weiner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Whatever happened to the Griffin Sisters?

Twenty years ago the pop group The Griffin Sisters took the US by storm. Their one and only album went gold, they were compared to every music legend out there. Their lyrics were soulful and their lead singer Cassie had a voice to rival Aretha Franklin and every other great singer you can think of.

The Griffin Sisters was the brainchild of Cassie's older sister Zoe. Zoe had the looks, but Cassie had the talent. The record label introduced them to Russell who helped them write the songs that resonated with a generation. Then tragedy struck and the band split.

Twenty years later, Zoe is a suburban housewife in New Jersey who has done everything she can to gloss over her past and Cassie is a recluse living in the wilds of Alaska. But Zoe's eldest child Cherry has the music bug and is determined to pursue her dreams no matter what Zoe says.

Think a mash-up of The Mamas and the Papas and Fleetwood Mac, the drama, the relationships, the raw talent, the devastation.

I really enjoyed this, but I guess I wanted a different ending - not sure what that would look like mind you, but I do.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: Venetia

Venetia by Georgette Heyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

How did I ever give this a rating of three stars when it is one of my favourite books of all time?

Miss Venetia Lanyon is the middle of three siblings. Her older brother Conway is abroad with the army and her younger brother is a scholar, about to attend Cambridge. Her late father was a recluse and as a result she has never been further from her Yorkshire home than the nearest towns/city. Her father didn't encourage visitors so other than two near neighbours she has not been out in society. Her father forbade his sister from presenting Venetia at court so now at twenty-five, despite being a raving beauty she is also considered 'on the shelf'.

Walking her dog one day in her absentee neighbour's grounds whilst picking blackberries, Venetia is accosted by said neighbour who thinks she is a villager and kisses her soundly (which is far more problematic to me now than it was when I first read this book more than forty years ago!). Far from being bowled over by his charms, Venetia is rather amused and perplexed as to why a man would want to manhandle a complete stranger (we choose the bear LOL) and puts a damper on Lord Damerel's attempts at seduction.

Jasper Damerel was always known as the Wicked Baron by the Lanyon children growing up, he eloped with a married woman whilst a young man, precipitated his father's stroke, held licentious parties, gambled excessively, and paraded a string of paramours around society. Now thirty-eight, he has escaped to Yorkshire to avoid his three aunts who have come up with a scheme to rehabilitate him in society by promoting his engagement to a young woman of noble birth, even if she is neither wealthy, young, or a beauty.

When Venetia's younger brother Aubrey falls off his horse and injures himself near Damerel's manor house, Damerel brings the injured boy back home and offers to care for him until Aubrey is well enough to be taken home. Damerel and Venetia fall in love over the weeks that Aubrey is incapacitated and once he returns home, while Aubrey and Damerel also cultivate a friendship based on a love of the classics, but can a dissolute rake and an innocent young woman really find a happy ever after, or will real life intervene?

Its fascinating rereading these novels after years. I was sure that Conway returns home and that nurse drives Mrs Scorrier away, and indeed that Edward Yardley proposes to Clara but none of those things happen in this Kindle version!

What I love about this book is that first and foremost Venetia and Damerel are friends, every time someone says something absurd she looks at him because she knows he will also find it amusing, she stores up funny sayings to share with him. Being around Venetia and Aubrey brings out the kind, scholarly man that is hidden behind the cynicism and debauchery.

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Review: Murder at Sunny View: An absolutely gripping and charming cozy murder mystery novel for 2025

Murder at Sunny View: An absolutely gripping and charming cozy murder mystery novel for 2025 by Greg Mosse
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Maisie Cooper is asked to visit her old employers at their guesthouse in the small village of Trout Leap in Devon to help them with an issue that could lead to murder. When Maisie gets to Trout Leap there are various mutters about a gold mine in the nearby hills and an imminent meeting, but no-one seems willing to explain what is happening. In the interim, Maisie amuses herself by getting acquainted with the other residents of the village which she sets out in a letter to her fiancé (who is a policeman) as a cast of characters, together with a map of the village.

Two further guests arrive at the guesthouse, but Maisie is convinced that there is something 'odd' about them, did they really meet on the train down or were they acquainted before? In particular, the male guest's vague statements about his profession rouse Maisie's suspicions.

Out walking one day, Maisie discovers the body of a young woman from the village, daughter of the local railway worker, who has the intelligence of a child. She has been murdered. The whole village knew that the girl liked to wander off, particularly at night, so the suspicion is that she may have seen something she shouldn't have. With only a half-witted local PC to investigate, Maisie feels drawn to solve the murder.

I read the first book in this series and whilst I enjoyed the mystery and the limitations imposed on an investigation when it is set in the 1970s (no mobile phones, no internet etc) I felt that the author went overboard mentioning every little thing that happened eg the oil crisis, electricity cuts, Maxwell House instant coffee, decimalisation etc). Unfortunately, I feel that he has done the same here, whether it is talking about British Rail, Britain entering the EU, the Black and White Minstrel show, or Angel Delight. Also, the way in which he interspersed Maisie's internal musings with his own explanation of what was happening felt 'off'.

Overall, this was pleasant enough but I don't think I will be reading any more in the series.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: Sylvester

Sylvester by Georgette Heyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Inspired by a Facebook group I belong to, I downloaded all my GH books onto my Kindle and decided to start by rereading Sylvester. I chose this edition as this was the paperback I read and reread as a teenager.

Sylvester is the Duke of Salford. His twin brother Harry died a few years ago, leaving a bride Ianthe and a young son, Edmund. Harry made Sylvester his son's guardian which has been a source of contention between him and Ianthe. Now Ianthe is engaged to be married to Sir Nugent Fotherby, a rather ridiculous. albeit fabulously wealthy, follower of fashion. As Sylvester is unmarried, his thoughts have turned to the problem of an heir and he has drawn up a short-list of eligible females who he *might* consider marrying. When he consults his mother, she confesses that she once dreamed of him marrying her best friend Serena's daughter, but that was just a foolish fancy between friends. Nevertheless, with no other guide, Sylvester determines to at least meet the young lady and determine if she is suitable.

Phoebe Marlow, eldest daughter of Lord Marlow and the Dowager Duchess of Salford's best friend Serena, is not a raging beauty. Indeed, because her father is hunting-mad she has spent a good proportion of her life in the stables, particularly hiding from her stepmother, the current Lady Marlow whose vicious tongue reduces Phoebe to a gibbering wreck. Her only solace is writing fantastical gothic tales, and her hope is to publish one such novel and then buy a cottage where she will live with her governess. Phoebe's novel concerns a pair of impossibly beautiful and virtuous orphans, a wicked uncle, kidnapping, and other hair-raising adventures. What sets it apart is that some of the characters are thinly veiled caricatures of aristocrats she met in her uneventful London season ... and the wicked uncle is based on Sylvester, mainly because of his sloping eyebrows that give him a malevolent aspect but also because he appeared arrogant when they met. What Phoebe doesn't know are the circumstances of Sylvester's family life and how similar they are to certain aspects of her novel.

Initially, Sylvester is dismayed when he meets Phoebe, she is badly dressed, monosyllabic, and her parents are clearly of the view that the engagement is a done-deal. However, when Phoebe runs away with a neighbour into a snowstorm to avoid Sylvester's proposal, Sylvester is embroiled in the escape. When he discovers the reason that Phoebe ran away his pride is piqued, and he determines to make her realise what she is missing. But when Phoebe's novel becomes a storming success it has effects she could never have envisaged.

I was surprised how much of the book is taken up by events prior to their arrival in London - for some reason I thought that was just a few chapters but it was practically 60% of the book! I still love, love, love the scene at the ball and Phoebe's comment as she runs away. And anything to do with Sir Nugent TBH - such a kind and generous man but such a prize idiot!

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Review: What the Night Brings: A Tom Thorne Novel

What the Night Brings: A Tom Thorne Novel by Mark Billingham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

DI Tom Thorne attends a raid and gets chatting to four uniformed officers who can't believe their luck - a member of the public has left them a box of doughnuts. A few hours later three of them are dead and the fourth is in a coma.

As Tom and his team rush to discover whether this was a random attack on the police or targeted at one or more of the victims, they soon discover that the body count is rising. Can they piece together the evidence to catch a serial killer?

Now I'm guessing that starting this series at book 19 isn't necessarily the best intro, but I recognised the author's name and thought there must be some merit in reading it since it appears to be popular. Whilst there were references to previous cases/former wives etc I found it easy to read as a standalone.

On the whole, I did enjoy it. Perhaps as a new reader I found the culprit's identity to be somewhat obvious, but then I often suspect two or three people in each book. One thing I did find a little jarring was what felt (to me) like an inclusion by numbers of diversity (and I write as an inclusion and diversity champion) with variously a lesbian, a gay man, a single mother, a man in a wheelchair etc. One might of course argue on the other hand that non-CIS gendered people can find institutions such as the police a less than welcoming environment (no matter what the PR team say) and therefore if a leader shows that they are inclusive then people gravitate towards them creating very diverse teams as a result. Just an observation.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Review: The Sugared Game

The Sugared Game by K.J. Charles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Two months have passed since the first book. Will Darling's uncle's probate has come through so he is even more prosperous and the second-hand bookshop is doing well.

His friend Maisie gets a voucher for a free bottle of champagne at a nightclub from one of her clients and persuades Will to go along, although it isn't really his idea of fun. When wandering the nightclub Will discovers that the higher levels are almost exclusively populated by thugs and what appear to be drug dealers and he is warned away by the oily club manager. Shortly afterwards he runs into a former superior officer who is now reduced to acting as a waiter in the nightclub and they agree to meet for a drink to catch-up on old times.

However, it turns out that the nightclub is a front for the Zodiac gang (or whatever they call themselves) and Will has unwittingly put himself in the spotlight because they can't believe he's there for innocent purposes. Next thing, Kim is back on the scene being as devious as ever.

Suffice to say that there are more fight sequences than any James Bond film, there's blackmail, double-crossing, safe-cracking, fur coats, dinner at The Criterion, fashion designers, and it all ends in a wonderful finale. Can't wait to read the third book.

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Review: The New Guy

The New Guy by Sarina Bowen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gavin is a sports physiotherapist and single father after his husband tragically died. He's moved to Brooklyn with his daughter to make a fresh start and has been upfront with the team about his sexuality - so far they've been nothing but supportive. His younger sister is living with him in the apartment the team has put at his disposal, apparently they own a few buildings and rent out apartments to players and staff if required. When his sister offers to babysit, Gavin goes off to explore the neighbourhood and when he spots a sports bar decides a beer and some food might be a good idea.

Hudson Newgate is a bisexual ice-hockey player. Although a good player he has been traded by every team he's played for and his nickname is always 'The New Guy'. He tried to come out to his first team's management and got traded a few days later, since then he's learned his lesson and kept his mouth shut, especially since his agent (aka his father) has confirmed through his industry sources that this was the reason he was traded.

Hudson does everything right, eats clean, doesn't drink, focuses on the end goal of a long-term contract with a no-trade clause when he can finally be himself. One night he decides to go and watch the Brooklyn game at the local sports bar, where he almost hooks up with a cute guy, until on the way back to his place they discover they are next-door neighbours!!!

Close proximity, single dad m/m romance. Loved it and can't wait for the third book to be published.

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Review: Slippery Creatures

Slippery Creatures by K.J. Charles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Will Darling was probably what we would call a Commando in WW1, not an officer, he was nevertheless highly decorated and was adept at killing Germans in close combat/assassination. Since being demobilised, his fortunes took a turn for the worst, until he reached out to a distant uncle who not only invited him to stay with him in London but also gave him a job and ultimately, when he died a few months later, left him his chaotic second-hand book shop and all his possessions. Having gone from destitute and one step away from begging, to employed, and then to a man of property (albeit still awaiting probate to get his hands on any cash his uncle may have left), Will is feeling very lucky.

One day a strange man enters the book shop demanding 'The Information', Will eventually realises that he has been mistaken for his uncle and runs the man out of his store, not without receiving some ominous threats. Then two men from the War Office turn up, uttering similar threats and also demanding Will hand over this mysterious information.

When a thug comes in shortly thereafter throwing books around and generally trying to intimidate Will he has had enough and determines to search the bookshop from top to bottom to find out what could be so important. When a young aristocrat comes into the store and starts a conversation with Will, sparks flow and together they work together to uncover the information. But the aristo isn't all that he seems and he could be using Will for his own ends.

This is very reminiscent of that classic The 39 Steps, albeit a m/m version and I loved it. Secret Societies with code names, double-agents, spies, Bright Young Things, what's not to like?

Loved it, read it in one day and have already bought and devoured the second book.

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Review: Hive

Hive by D.L. Orton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

ARGH!!!!!

D.L. Orton wrote a trilogy a few years ago featuring Diego and Isabel which i loved and I had been waiting for the fourth book ever since I finished the third book in 2017. So when I saw this book, even though it seemed to be a completely new series I jumped at the chance to snag an ARC.

I have the memory of a gadfly at the best of times so expecting me to remember anything other than Diego and Isabel's names from nearly eight years ago is laughable. Nevertheless, I found it (relatively) easy to read this book cold. Diego and Isabel are the last living survivors in an Earth biodome, Diego's best friend Dave has recently committed suicide and their other friend Madders is now an AI. Isabel is dying of cancer so she devises a Hail Mary plan to send Diego back in time with the last of the biodome's energy to try to prevent the series of catastrophes which destroyed Earth and eventually led to humanity's almost complete extinction (Diego and Isabel being the last remnants). Hopefully, in time, the biodome's solar panels will recharge and re-activate Madden's Ai.

Given the limitations of sending someone back in time/to an alternate reality and knowing what were the catalysts which led to almost total annihilation, can Diego turn the dial enough to change the future?

Before I wrote my review of this book I reread my review of the third book in the previous series and I think I expressed the fascinating yet confusing time lines very well. Despite my total lack of understanding of physics (my teacher actually had tears in her eyes when she found out I had passed my 'o' level) or the science of this series I loved every second and was so disappointed when it ended.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.


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Review: Bold Moves: A Novel

Bold Moves: A Novel by Emma Barry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Scarlett Arbuthnot is a sexy Chess Grand Master (albeit I think of her as a bit like Anna Kournikova - looks better than her actual results) who upset the chess world and wrote an explosive biography exposing the sexism and general obstacles to anyone other than straight white men succeeding at the highest levels.

Jaime Croft (and can I say now how much I hate the spelling of his first name) was Scarlett's childhood sweetheart. He was their High School's golden boy, rich, clever, and good-looking, whereas she was was most definitely from the wrong side of town, daughter of a single mother who drifted from man to man and town to town with very little attempt at parenting. Then everything went to pot their senior year, Jaime's dad went to prison and Scarlett left their small town and never looked back.

Seventeen years later, Jaime is a successful film director, who made a critically acclaimed film about what happened with his father, and he wants to adapt Scarlett's book into a film. Can Scarlett go back to their small town and face her critics whilst working on the script with Jaime. With both of them having unresolved feelings (and secrets) about what happened back in the day can they ever recapture what they had or will their secrets tear them apart again?

I loved Queen's Gambit the TV series so I was very interested in reading this book. Unfortunately, other than the clothes, the glamorous female chess player, and the misogynist male players, this was nothing like as engaging as the TV series. The story dragged on (and on and on), I thought Jaime was a whiny martyr and Scarlett was so busy protecting her feelings that she lied almost constantly.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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