When you wish to kill your ex and then he truly dies…

Synopsis

It is 5:30 am on Clio’s forty-fifth birthday and her hated ex is lying dead on her doorstep. Even worse, this is no accident. Someone’s killed him…

When single mum Clio’s ex Gary turns up dead on the doorstep of her caravan – the one she’s been forced to live in ever since he stole every penny she had – there’s only one suspect. Her.

What’s more, she doesn’t remember much about the night he was killed – not just because of the forgetfulness that’s been plaguing her along with the hot flushes – but because she definitely had one too many cocktails with her two best friends Amber and Jeanie.

Clio does remember them talking about how much they all hated him though. And, in the frame for murder, she has toask herself – if she didn’t kill Gary, who did? One of his many enemies? Or someone a little closer to home? And can she and her friends find the real killer before it’s too late?

Unputdownable mystery set on the English coast – perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club, Bad Sisters, and How to Kill Your Family.

My review

Thanks to her ex Gary, Clio is not having the best of lives. He forced her out of the business they had together, took all her money and even forces her to live in a caravan. So it’s clear that Clio isn’t a fan of Gary.
And then Gary ends up dead on the doorstep of her caravan. As Gary truly played dirty and even took money that wasn’t for him to take, and Clio made some threats beforehand and everyone knew how much she hated him, Clio has become the prime suspect.
Under normal circumstances, Clio would be fighting to prove her innocence, weren’t it that she truly cannot remember what happened the night Gary was killed, as she had too many cocktails with her best friends Amber and Jeanie.
Amber and Jeanie are sure that Clio isn’t the culprit and are ready to do their own investigations. But is Clio truly innocent? And who is the murderer if it isn’t Clio?  

Haven’t we all had an ex that afterwards made our blood boil, and haven’t we all been wishing someone dead? Of course that is all in our imagination, and any kind of death would be a painful one for the person that broke our hearts.
But in Italian there is a saying, between saying something and doing something is the sea. Meaning that even if we say something, it’s a whole different thing to actually be doing it. 

Clio has wished her ex terrible things, just in the heat of moments. And yet she finds herself in the position of finding Gary’s body and becoming a suspect. A situation that despite our big mouths, we don’t want to find ourselves in! 

I have to admit, there were moments that I wished that Clio showed more backbone, especially reading how Gary has treated her during their marriage and in the aftermath of it. Clio for sure lost a lot because of that scumbag and is still paying the price for many of his actions… 

Because there is one thing that is crystal – clear… Gary isn’t a great loss to the world. He is totally obnoxious, big – headed and only thinks and loves himself. He truly thinks he deserves the best of the best, and believes that he has a right to own anything. I truly despised him more and more throughout the story…
His actions for sure aren’t justified in any way, and he got it coming, his ending. 

Of course killing someone isn’t the right thing to do, and while I believed that Clio was innocent, despite everything she had to endure, I was curious to see who the real culprit was. Especially after reading that there were plenty of options! With the countdown to Gary’s death, the list of suspects only grew, with people far away from Clio but also close to her. 

With suspects closer to Clio, and Clio making discoveries herself, we see the real Clio submerge, as a person ready to protect her loved ones.
But on the other hand, we also see her loved ones, especially her best friends Amber and Jeanie, fighting in her corner.
Because who knows us the best, who knows what we are truly capable us, even if alcohol may be involved? Exactly, our best friends. 

And that felt for me the true meaning of this  book, as yes, we are looking for a murderer, doing several investigations to make any discovery. But it felt mainly about a story about real friendships, and how we would walk on water for each other, even to be ‘in debts’ with someone dodgy… 

Of course I enjoyed reading this story, as even if a murder is a serious business, there were plenty funny moments, as Jeanie and Amber are for sure a unique pair of investigators. They have their own issues, but they never dropped Clio like a rock…
And in a strange way, Gary dying was a good thing for each of the women, as it gave them a chance to solve their own problems while solving the mystery. 

This was a cosy mystery, with murder, many suspects but mainly about three great friends that despite their differences never stop believing in each other and will never stop helping each other!

All the things that can happen in just one week…

Synopsis

All she wants for Christmas is peace and quiet.

All he wants for Christmas is… her.

Losing her job and boyfriend weeks before Christmas leaves Talia feeling more bah humbug than filled with festive spirit. The last thing she needs is Christmas with her chaotic family and Rafe Scott, her brother’s grumpy best friend and long-term star of her hottest fantasies.

Her heart’s deepest desire if she’s honest with herself.

But when Rafe comes along with an offer she can’t refuse—use of his family’s cottage in Scotland in exchange for a date to his company’s holiday party—Talia gratefully accepts. A quiet, wintry escape sounds like heaven and a few hours in Rafe’s company couldn’t hurt.

Until it does.

Fleeing to her Scottish Highland retreat, Talia’s longed-for peace doesn’t last long when a bitter storm brings snow and the one man she desperately wants but cannot have. Now snowed in together for the holiday season, will their simmering attraction keep them warm or will they both get burned?

One Week With You is a steamy contemporary holiday novella containing strong language and sexual scenes.

My review

With Talia losing her job and her boyfriend, all she truly wants is a quiet Christmas and not the usual Christmas spending with her chaotic family.
Luckily her brother’s grumpy best friend Rafe has a family cottage in Scotland Talia can use, on just one condition… to be his date on his company’s holiday party.
Talia agrees, as the prospect to be on her own is too good to let go, and even if she has to endure some excruciating hours with the man who played the main character in her hottest fantasies.  
And then Rafe appears at the cottage and the pair is snowed in together…  

I am not a prude woman, but I can understand that some readers don’t like to read explicit stories. if you are one of them, I advise you to skip this book, as things for sure get heated!
But if you are just like me, and you aren’t shocked by a lot of action in the bedroom as a result of a romantic story, you will truly enjoy this book! 

I have several tropes that I love reading, best friends to lovers, enemies to lovers etc. And as brother’s best friend is also one of them, I just had to read this one.  

From the start I liked Talia, and I could understand her reluctance in admitting to her family how she had lost her job and her boyfriend. I think I would be feeling the same, as it somehow feels like a failure. But I also knew that there isn’t anything to be ashamed for, as why should Talia mourn a job she didn’t truly love, and a relationship that was already reaching its end? 

And I have to admit, even if it’s a bit cringy, I could understand how she always had a crush on her brother’s friend.
Although in her case, there is a history, while for me, it was all one – sided! 😊 

But what I liked reading, was how Rafe has always been part of Talia’s family. He isn’t just a friend, but truly an adopted member, loved as much as one of the other siblings, despite his grumpiness! Because Talia, her brother, and the rest of the family know the real Rafe, the man he truly is.  

And that Rafe is a caring man, who would do anything for those in his inner circle. He doesn’t always show it, but he has a gentle character, he is a person that doesn’t want to jeopardize what’s important to him. For that, he is ready to hide his real feelings about Talia, and what he imagines he wants to do with her… 

Did it come to a surprise reading that Rafe appears at the Scottish cottage? Of course not! Did it shock me that those days just the who of them lead to something “unexpected” yet heated? Of course not! Did it take away any enjoyment from reading it anyway? Of course not! 

This was a rather short story to read, yet it gave you so much back! We see how two characters who have known each other for a long time, finally give in to their feelings. We see how perfectly they match and how much fun they have together and not only between the sheets. As they are on their own, they can give in to the smallest wishes, like go sledging, decorate a Christmas tree with old decorations, or just snuggling together in front of a fireplace.
And I found it sweet to see how encourage each other, to take their future in their own hands.
But we also see how there still are struggles, as there is always the fear of doing the wrong thing, or the fear of just screwing everything up, everything they both have worked so hard for. 

I truly enjoyed reading this book, and I found myself devouring it at a rather fast pace!
The story has everything I expected, love, romance, heated moments, but also the true sense of family, and the heart in general. All wrapped into a beautiful Christmassy, snowy setting! 

This was a new author for me, but I have loved reading this book and now I cannot wait to read even more from her!

Love can stand every test, even a TV show?

Synopsis

Berkley Kaine was lucky enough to meet her perfect man at a young age.

Blissfully in love, she’s about to graduate college, take on her dream job, and has never been more optimistic for the future.

Will Adler has been in love with Berkley Kaine since the moment he laid eyes on her.

But ever since they became a couple, Will and Berkley have had to contend with his influential, richer-than-rich socialite family who have never thought Berkley is good enough. Determined to drive the young lovers apart, Will’s family reveal the secret he’s yet to find a way to tell her – he’s signed on with his brother to be a part of a reality TV show called PDX Royals, as apparently, money is all it takes to be ‘royalty’ in America.

Can Berkley forgive Will for lying?

Can the couple survive the pressure of Will’s crazy family, his constant bad decisions, and a TV show they never expected to blow up the way it did?

Can first love ever become forever love?

Enjoy Aimee Brown’s steamy-as-hell, laugh-out-loud rom com and find out if Will and Berkley get their happily-ever-after. The perfect novel for all fans of Sariah Wilson, Lindsey Kelk and Abby Jiminez.

My review

Berkley and Will have been in love with each other and together for years, despite their young age. their future hasn’t looked any brighter, and they have so many plans together.
Weren’t it only that Will’s parents, or rather his whole family, think that Will can do better than Berkley.
As the Adler family is a very rich and influential one, nothing will stop them to gain more money and prestige. And so Will finds himself being part of a reality TV show, together with his brother.
A TV show Will didn’t tell Berkley about.. and the one thing that they never had for each other, were secrets…
Will their strong relationship stand the test of camera’s, interfering families and a succession of bad decisions? Or will this once again be the case where first loves never make it? 

Having read several books of this author, and each one of them put a smile on my face, made me very eager to pick this one up too.
But part of writing reviews, also means that you have to be honest. So I have to say that this book didn’t make me smile as much as Aimee Brown’s other books.
And there is no need to panic, because there were definitely smiles, and I did enjoy reading this book. But there are also many painful, heart – breaking moments in this book… 

The book starts great, as we see that Berkley and Will are happy together, have great plans and they show that first loves can stand the test of time, and even the test of a difficult and obnoxious family.
I was rooting for this couple from the first words in the book. 

But then things start to fall apart, at the discovery that Will is going to be part of a TV show with just a terrible name. I think it’s common knowledge that despite being called a ‘reality’, there is a lot fake in whatever we see on TV. And I was afraid that this TV show would not only be confirming that aspect, but would even go over the top with it. 

I understood the decision Berkley made, as being on a TV show goes against everything that Berkley is, even if it means heartbreak. But I also liked it how despite that decision, she doesn’t just give up on Will. It shows that she truly loves Will, and that she will always be there for him, even at his lowest moments. 

And there are many low moments for Will. Seeing his struggles is heart – breaking but also painful. Seeing him on this self – destructing path broke my heart but also made me dislike him a tiny bit. We see how a bright, nice, kind person changes into just a shadow of his former self. We see the effect on someone who feels alone, without support and a camera on his face the whole time. 

I have to say, that Will’s family for sure is a despicable one. And while perhaps toward the end we can see how it all fits together, it didn’t made me change my mind about them. Especially Will’s parents are the worst, they are so self – centred, selfish, obnoxious. Even when at a moment they should be grateful of what Will and Berkley are doing, still they don’t change…  

The author made the choice of making time pass very quickly, as we easily jump months or even years ahead. And while this may seem a bit odd, it’s also a great opportunity to see the change in the characters, but also how at the core they are still the same person. 

Yet do not despair, as this isn’t a depressing story at all, because there still are plenty of moments that made me smile, made me laugh and were definitely funny.
We also see how it helps to have friends on your side when things are going downhill. They are there for you with advice (perhaps not always the right advice, but it comes from the right place). 

I can understand that this story is not for everyone, as Aimee Brown for sure put the spotlight on several difficult topics. But in the end, I had to admit that I fully appreciated this book and I absolutely liked it. Because life and love isn’t a fairy – tale. They both come with ups and downs. The ups can be high and the downs very low. But we also see that no matter what has happened, there is always the chance to pick yourself up, to make a change yourself. And if the drive is winning back the person you love, you should grab that opportunity with both hands. 

And it doesn’t matter when you meet the love of your life, it doesn’t matter if you are just a teenager or not. When love crosses your path, and you have found that perfect person, even the darkest and most difficult moments cannot just take that love away. Love is and will always be a work a progress and even when you go your own ways, love, if it’s the real thing, will always bring you back together…

When a fresh start doesn’t go as expected

Synopsis

A new start…

When Danni Carter moves to Cornwall from London, she hopes it will be the fresh start she so desperately needs. She’s nervous, but hopefully the change of scene will help her to finally forget her feelings for Lucas Newman, a man she can never be with, because he’s already engaged to Danni’s best friend, Esther.

An Impossible Dilemma…

But when Lucas and Esther decide to follow Danni to Cornwall, and both announce they will be working with her at the new St Piran’s hospital, Danni is thrown into turmoil again. She can’t lose Esther, but being near Lucas is getting harder to deal with. Will she have to give up her new life before it’s even started?

A chance to start again?

Throwing herself into work, Danni finds herself drawn to new patient, Connie Berrycloth, a woman Danni knows has dark secrets of her own. Secrets that are about to be revealed….

As the two women form a friendship, Danni begins to realise that letting go of her dreams might be the only way of holding on to the people she loves.

My review

Danni Carter made the move from London to Cornwall for her own sake. She is deeply in love with Lucas Newman, but as he is engaged to her best friend Esther, Danni has decided to remove herself from that equation.
Danni is more than ready to make a fresh start and is happy with her new job at the St. Piran’s hospital. But then Esther and Lucas tell her their decision to make the move to Cornwall too…
With Lucas once again near, Danni finds it more and more difficult to keep her distance. But Esther’s friendship means the world to her.
To distract herself from Lucas, Danni throws herself into work, and finds a friend in new patient Connie Berrycloth, who may understand her struggles better than anyone else, as Connie herself has dark secrets…
But what will Danni do with her feelings? Because no matter what she decides to do, it will end in heartbreak one way or another.

When an author you love starts a new series, it’s always with a little fear that I start reading that book. Will the author manage to fulfill the extreme high expectations? Or will I finish the books with a feeling of disappointed?

Luckily for us, Jo Bartlett managed perfectly to even exceed my expectations and she never lost the magic that she created with the Cornish Midwives.

From the very start I pitied Danni. It’s difficult to be in love and it’s unrequited. But what when it seems that it is requited, but it’s an even bigger impossible love, as the person you love is in a relationship with your best friend?
Yet I admired her also, beside pitying her. Because she knows she cannot act upon her feelings, and makes the decision to move from London.
Danni could have been a selfish woman, and fight till she gets the man she desires. But that is not her modus operandi. Her friendship with Esther is more important to her than Lucas ever will be. And that gives you a perfect insight of who Danni truly is…

I found it terrible for her when she discovers that Esther and Lucas have decided to move to Cornwall too. Of course Danni is happy to have her best friend close again, but she herself made the move for a reason, and that reason just followed her all the way to Cornwall.

I didn’t know what outcome I was rooting for… did I want Danni to end up with Lucas, but where would that leave her with Esther? Or did I want Danni to give up on Lucas, and thus give up on love? I truly couldn’t decide, but I knew that I wanted Danni to see happy, because she deserves it as we can see in so many different aspects what a kind, gentle and loving person she is.

And it truly warmed my heart to see how she looks after Connie, a patient in the hospital. Somehow they feel they both are carrying a likewise burden, a secret they have been keeping for a long time.

My heart went also out to Connie (wow, I felt sorry for many people in this book 😀). And not only because of the terrifying accident she was in, but also for the choices she had to made in the past, and how she has been living with her secrets. And how she wants to make amends, even if she knows how difficult things can get.

What touched me the most in this book was the unselfishness of the main characters. They show us what loving someone (whether it’s your best friend, the person you are in love with, your family) truly means.
Because when you love someone you are willing to put your own happiness aside. But it also means to be the bearer of heartbreaking news, even knowing that you may have to pay the price for it.

While there is a lot to do about Danni’s and Connie’s love interest and their secrets, for me it felt like this was a wonderful, heartfelt, warm story about love in all its aspects. We see what real friendship means, we see how we are ready to make sacrifices for the people we love. And we see that even when we think to have found our match, if it’s the Real Thing, Love finds a way to make it work. And if it doesn’t work, there is a reason for it…

This was again a marvelous story, that I truly enjoyed reading. I loved each character (with the exception of one..) and I absolutely had a blast with Gwen! 😀

The truth is out there…

Synopsis

An old friend in need…

Despite being retired from the police, Dan Armstrong is always on hand to help with solving a crime. So, when he’s contacted by an old colleague in need of help, Dan readily agrees. The only problem Dan can see is the location – an isolated mountain-top campsite of UFO enthusiasts.

An unexplained death…

But these are no ordinary star watchers, and when Dan arrives one member of the group is already dead. Some of the group suspect alien abduction, but Dan is sure the killer is much closer to home.

An out of this world case?

Dan doesn’t believe in aliens, but faced with black hole of secrecy from the group of suspects, he and Oscar have their work cut out to catch the murderer…before they strike again.

It’s another case for Dan and Oscar to solve!

A gripping new murder mystery series by bestselling author T.A. Williams, perfect for fans of Lee Strauss and Beth Byers.

My review

Dan Armstrong may have left the police and is building a new life in Italy, but when an old colleague calls him for help, obviously Dan is going to help.
Even if that means going to a campsite on a mountain in Aoste, with his loyal companion Oscar. And even if that means that Dan needs to pretend to be just as big as a UFO enthusiasts as each member of the group is a suspect of murder.
But how can the real murderer be found when everyone claims that the culprits were from outer space?
Another investigation for Dan and his colleague on four paws Oscar! 

When I started reading this next book of an amazing cozy mystery series, I was on one hand over the moon. I have loved each book more than the previous book and I was really looking forward with this one.
However… on the other hand, this book caused me so many eye – rolling, it could have turned in a chronical issue. Not because I didn’t enjoy it, but because some of the UFO fanatics for sure were annoying! 

Of course it was great to see how well life is going for Dan and Oscar. His life in Italy has given him everything he had missed in his London – life. And after his divorce, having retired, he for sure has learnt his lessons from the past and is adamant to not make the same mistakes he made with his ex – wife now that he is in a happy relationship with Anna. 

But we also see a Dan who appreciates his old English friendships, and doesn’t turn his back on one of those friends. It’s not only curiosity that brings him to Aoste, but also a sense of protection and a sense of duty. He could always count on his friend over the Channel when he needed, and now it’s more than logical that when the cards are turned, he does the same for them. 

The more I got into the book, the more I also liked to discover that some ‘Dan – isms’ are rubbing off on me. Just like Dan, I never lost my wariness, no matter how the possible culprits were acting, or were trying to get in Dan’s good books.
And let’s obviously not forget about Oscar! Even if he keeps following his nose for a good treat, he may be the quickest of everyone around to discover a hidden clue! 

The characters the pair encounter are for sure a special kind of person, as I think is required for being so dedicated to discover that there is *something out there*… While some may be genuine, there are  others just finding it a way to put themselves back in the picture. And it may not be easy to decipher at first instance who is who, thanks to that ‘Dan – ism’ and wariness, I found myself putting question marks at several person’s behaviour and even found out in being correct with my own assesments! 

Dan and Oscar together are for sure a force to be reckoned with. For this pair, no murder is too difficult to solve. They are not only amazing at solving any kind of crime, but wherever they go, they have a culinary journey too, making me feel hungry at the start of their meal, and full by the end of it too!
And while I for sure am a cat – person, I think a dog like Oscar, his snoring included, would just maybe convert me to a dog – person. Or rather, a Oscar – person! 

Once again the author doesn’t only take you on a cozy mystery, but he takes you on a real journey. I am not a mountain – person myself, it doesn’t matter if it’s winter of summer. Yet thanks to the talent of this author, I felt like I was walking the mountain myself. 

I truly enjoyed reading this next chapter, even if it included the search for UFO sightings. Even if that wasn’t my cup of tea, I liked reading page after page after page! And that the murders must be found between the human kind. Because let’s be honest, there isn’t anything else out there, right? Or is there…

Not everyone loves Christmas, for one reason or another…

Synopsis

A festive, coming-of-age tale about an Oxbridge candidate and a young homeless man who find themselves in the bittersweet predicament of falling in love with exactly the right person at exactly the wrong time. 

Well-to-do Jed never imagined he’d end up homeless, but family circumstances have made it his only option. Local vicar, Ben, tries to help him but there’s an element of self-punishment to the homelessness that makes Jed continue to put up with his situation – until disaster leads him to re-consider the vicar’s offer of a place to stay. 

Hattie is on the cusp of adulthood, frantically trying to persuade her mum that she doesn’t want to attend an elite university, preferring the idea of pursuing her love of art and textiles. When she meets Jed, she badly wants to understand his circumstances and why, when she has everything at her fingertips, he doesn’t. 

Hattie’s mum, Christine, has had a hard life and is desperate for more for her only child. When she meets Ben, the vicar who’s trying to help Jed, she finds an unlikely ally, and the two heartbroken souls find themselves drawn to each other. Until they find their relationship suddenly tested to the limit. 

One thing’s for certain: none of these characters is looking forward to Christmas. It’s the worst time of year for each of them, for different reasons. But perhaps this year, the festive season could defy all expectations.

Rebecca Boxall is the award-nominated author of five bestselling novels – Christmas at the Vicarage, Home for Winter, Christmas on the Coast, The Christmas Forest and Christmas by the Lighthouse. She is also the author of Christmas at the Farmhouse and her popular short story, A Winter’s Day.

My review

While studying at the library, Hattie finds herself being intrigued by the homeless man she sees sitting in the cold with his dog.
Jed is most times ignored by the people who pass him, and is surprised when Hattie offers him a hot chocolate against the cold. Because the only person who truly cares about him in these circumstances, is vicar Ben, who has offered more than once a place to stay.
But Hattie’s mother, Christine, isn’t happy with the new friend Hattie has made, as Christine wants Hattie to attend an elite university, so that Hattie can have the future Christine didn’t have. Even if Christine’s dreams for Hattie aren’t Hattie’s…
And the last thing Christine needs is another vicar in her life, as Ben keeps on appearing in her life more than once.
But no matter how different the lives of these four characters are, they have one thing in common, nobody is looking forward to the upcoming Christmas, and nothing or no one can change that…

First of all, I found the cover truly marvelous, even magical in a way. if you imagine a story centered around Christmas, and a cabin is involved, this is the imagine that pops up in your head, right?

Having said that, I expected this story to be a very sad one, even a heart – breaking one. and yes, the personal stories of each character is exactly that, but while it broke my heart, I still felt like this was truly a heart – warming story, showing us kindness, forgiveness, strength and love, all at the same time.

I truly liked Hattie and how open – minded she was. When she sees Jed for the first time, she wants to help. From the moment she hands over that warm drink, we see her genuine concern for Jed and how she wants to help in her own limited ways.
Hattie is the kind of person that looks at the person in front of her, and not at the situation. She sees and understands that Jed is a good guy, and that something out of his control brought him in being homeless.
But don’t think that Hattie pitties Jed, and that that is the reason she befriends him. Because that is absolutely not the case. She befriends him because she truly likes the person Jed is.

And Jed truly is a great guy. As he is a young man, I found it difficult to understand how he got in this particular situation. And why he is so reluctant in accepting help from Ben.
But his background broke my heart, as I cannot grasp how that can be done to a loved one. And even towards the end, when there are attempts of making things right again, we never get the complete truth…
Yet no matter what happened in the past to Jed, we see resilience in him, even fierceness in his eyes, as he wants to let everyone see that he doesn’t need help, that he can make it on his own.
Until he meets the unmistakable force named Hattie…

Seeing that friendship blossom truly was amazing, as it shows us that despite everything that happens in the world, there are good people out there, ready to help each other in their own way.

And one of those good people include Ben. As a vicar of course you wouldn’t expect anything else. But reality also tells us that that is not always the case.
But Ben is the kind of person who has his own demons to face, but that doesn’t take away that he will be the first by your side when you need him.
His genuine concern for Jed is admirable, but he also understands that Jed needs his space and needs to be on his own. But Ben is the kind of person who will always keep his door open for anyone, no matter his own inner demons.

Christine was perhaps the hardest nut to crack, or rather like. She is so set in getting her daughter in Oxford, not understanding that Hattie’s passions lay somewhere else. And at first Christine may look rather prejudiced. But slowly we get to understand her and what she has been through, making it easier to forgive her, and even forgive her later outbursts.

Obviously with Christine and Hattie being mother and child, it’s easy to link all the four characters together. But what also links the four of them, is how, in contrast to most people, they aren’t looking forward to Christmas, for their own personal reasons.

But as Fate has brought them all together, they realize that with the right people, Christmas is a wonderful moment to celebrate. And perhaps the characters are not all related by blood, but somehow, with patience, courage, strength, determination, (self) forgiveness, they found family with each other to be together with, ready to grasp that second chance and be thankful for it too.

Perhaps the epilogue wasn’t completely right up on my street. But I understood that that is also part of loving someone.

This was a warm, inspiring story that perhaps we all should read, as it shows us that sometimes it’s a small kind action that can be the start of a change in not only someone else’s life, but also our own…

When a marriage is made for alliances, what can come from it?

Synopsis

Could the wrong bride…

Be right for him after all!

For the sake of his family name, Lord Robert must marry to seal an alliance with an Irish clan. Only, the woman at the altar isn’t who he was promised! Instead, it’s her sister, Lady Mairenn! The sharp-tongued Irish beauty is as reluctant to wed as Robert, but as friction turns to fire between them, she’s further derailing Robert’s plans for this purely pragmatic arrangement…

My review

Irish Lady Mairenn is ready to sacrifice her own happiness for her sister’s sake. Even if that means to help her sister run away to marry the man she loves, and even if that means that Mairenn has to take her place in marrying Englishman Lord Robert de Brunville.
Robert isn’t happy learning that he won’ be marrying the woman he was promised, but for the alliance made with Mairenn’s dying father, he has no choice.
Neither one of them is happy with the prospect of living together with someone ‘outside their clans’, but needs must and it’s crystal – clear from the start that their marriage will be purely a pragmatic one.
Yet somehow Mairenn gets under Robert’s skin and despite their dislike of each other, there seems to be something else lingering between them… 

It took me a while to recall the first book of the series, especially as I am a fan of this author, I couldn’t remember any of her books being part of a series that I have started but not yet finished. After a small research, my questions were answered as the first part was written by another, yet also just as amazing author that I also happen to be following! 😊
But if you pick up this book and haven’t read the first book, there is no need to panic, as you can perfectly read it as a standalone. 

There are characters that immediately show how kind, loving and unselfish they are. And Mairenn is one of them. She is ready to give up her own happiness, as that means that her sister Cliodhna can marry the man she truly loves.
But there is more to Mairenn than just kindness. She is also sassy, in a good way, and knows how to get things her way. She knows how to handle her father, who as a clan – leader has always been very strict, rigorous and put the clan’s need above everything.
Yet there is also the great tragedy that struck this family, and that pain is still palpable. And there are Mairenn’s own issues, making her believe she is less worthy, and even a weakness for the family. 

Nevertheless, I loved reading how outspoken she is, even towards strangers. She won’t let anyone dictate her, and she stands her ground. That for sure put a smile on my face, not only when she first meets Robert, but throughout the whole book.
Even if she is ‘just’ a Lady, she knows more about the clan and what to do in which situation than any other man around her. And that was never heard of before in those times, but so refreshing to read about! 

Robert wasn’t perhaps the easiest person to like at first. I found him a bit pompous, not ready to listen and I found it even a bit annoying that he wanted to do everything his way. it felt to me he had no respect of the Irish ways.
He also appears to be very rigid, showing no attempts to build bridges with his long – lost brother, and is set in his own way of thinking. 

But slowly we learn that also in his case there has been a great loss, something that bonds him with Mairenn.
Yet that doesn’t take away that he often clashes with his sharp – tongued wife, making us readers have the best of times!
And seeing him adapt to the Irish ways, to see him perhaps even unintentional listening to Mairenn and taking her advice, was good to read. Because the saying ‘behind every great man stands a strong woman’, isn’t just bollocks, isn’t it? 😊 

Great part of the story is about Robert and Mairenn finding not only each other, but also themselves. They learn to trust each other, they learn to rely on each other, they learn to share their physical and emotional pains.
But there is also room for betrayal of a terrible kind, a great fight and fear. And still, we also see loyalty in those darkest moments… 

This was once again a great story to read. Mostly it’s at a calm pace, but gives you more time to fully understand both characters, where they come from and what they have been through and how they mature as they have found unexpectedly an ally with each other.
We see that no matter over how many things they think differently and clash more than anything else, they also see that love can bring many good things, and that love opens their heart in a way they didn’t think it could. 

And even if yes, the ending is predictable, does it truly matter when we can see that even in time of Knights and Maidens, love is a powerful thing that can turn the fiercest warrior into a gentle man and the most outspoken maiden into a woman ready to fight for her man.

Check this out!

Synopsis

Embark on a gripping journey of sacrifice and self-discovery in The Asymmetric Man, a thrilling tale set against the tumultuous backdrop of the Vietnam War. Follow Blake, a young recruit turned undercover agent, as he navigates the treacherous world of espionage, survival and forbidden love. From war-ravaged Saigon to seemingly impenetrable jungle and the tranquillity of a Buddhist monastery, this riveting novel explores the power of recognising and embracing one’s true calling, no matter the cost.

Extract

In this extract Blake Carter, a Cambridge University undergraduate fluent in several Oriental languages, is offered the opportunity to work for MI6 after graduation, with the prospect of working overseas in the Far East.

CHAPTER 1

Cambridge

March 1966.  

Blake stood for a moment, and looking up at the word HUMILITATIS carved in stone above the archway leading into Caius College. He walked through the gate and across Tree Court towards the south west corner of the quad and an ancient solid oak door. He pushed it open and its hinges creaked. In the gloomy hallway that stretched before him, there was a dark wooden staircase whose intricately carved balustrade gave off a faint smell of furniture polish. As he walked upstairs the steps groaned beneath his feet and he reflected that students like himself had been using the University, and this college, for more than seven hundred years. He wondered how many others had found the conventions stifling, although it had not taken him long to learn to get around them and turn them to his own advantage. 

Blake made his way to Professor Dodds’ rooms on the second floor. This was only the second time he’d been invited; the first was after they’d been introduced, two years ago. They usually met in The Rose and Crown, a quiet back street pub. He knocked on the dark oak door and a few moments later it creaked open.

‘Good evening, Professor.’

‘Ah, Blake, do come in,’ said Dodds, with a hint of awkwardness. ‘You’re on time, I see. That’s good, shows good manners.’ 

The front of his shirt had slipped out of his trousers and his tie was stained with remnants of food and gravy still wet from dinner. Blake recognised the same smell of roast beef he’d noticed last time. Dodds often appeared to be scatterbrained, rambling from one subject to another, but Blake had learnt that his appearance and distracted manner hid a sharp mind. He followed Dodds into the living room, a dark space with heavy wooden panelling; it was just as he remembered. There was a medium-sized dining table with four upright chairs ranged round it, a two-seater sofa and two leather armchairs. Against the far wall were two sets of tall bookcases stuffed full of books, with layers of books arranged horizontally on top of the upright ones. Two photographs of the Professor in his colourful gowns were displayed in silver frames on top of one bookcase. Document folders and sheets of paper were piled high on almost every surface. Removing his Cantonese/English dictionary from the pocket of his canvas jacket, Blake was ready for another evening of their usual academic conversations, but as he stepped further into the room, he saw a stranger in a grey suit sitting on the sofa, drink in hand.

‘This is the young man I was telling you about, Gerry. Blake Carter. Blake, this is Mr Benson,’ said Dodds. The stranger rose to his feet, and held out his hand.

‘Good evening, sir,’ said Blake, shaking hands.

‘A pleasure to meet you.’ Benson’s voice was rich and clear. He was tall and lean, his sharp blue eyes shining like beacons. 

‘Make yourselves comfortable. Gin and tonic, Blake?’ said Dodds, turning away towards a small cupboard used as a drinks cabinet.

‘Yes, please.’ 

Dodds poured Blake’s drink and handed it to him.

‘Just a minute, let me move some of those out of the way.’ He lifted a pile of documents from the seat of an armchair and made space for Blake to sit down. Benson returned to his seat on the sofa while Dodds sat on the other leather armchair, both of which had seen better days. ‘I’ve made some comments on the Chinese article about hydroelectric dams. Now where did I put it?’ Abruptly Dodds got up and put his drink on a small table beside his chair. He then did a tour of the room, rifling through different piles of documents and ending up at a pile on a footstool. Picking up a buff-coloured folder, he studied its contents. ‘Ah, here it is,’ he said, handed it to Blake and sat down again. 

‘Thanks.’

‘Well, Blake, how are you getting on with the Thai translation?’ asked Dodds.

‘Almost halfway through,’ said Blake.

‘Good, good.’

‘Ah,’ said Benson, ‘Doddsy here has been telling me he’s employed you to do translations for him.’

‘Yes.’

‘Translations? You’re reading Natural Sciences, aren’t you? Not much to do with Oriental languages I would have thought.’

Blake wondered where the line of questioning was leading and who Benson was; it seemed unlikely this was just a chance meeting. He shuffled in his seat. 

‘I was raised in the Far East,’ he said.

‘Ah, I see. So how did you come across Doddsy?’

Blake felt as if he was being quizzed, but Benson’s manner was friendly. 

‘I asked the Department of Asian Studies to recommend someone who could help me practise, so I wouldn’t forget it all. They put me in touch with Professor Dodds.’

‘Glad to be of assistance,’ said Dodds piously.

I am for sure intrigued!

Synopsis

A deadly feast, a mobster restaurant and a family get-together with fatal results.

Savour the spicy tang of dark and twisted tales in Pass the Cyanide, a follow-up to the award-winning collection of culinary mysteries, Add Cyanide to Taste.

From an old friend hiding a deadly secret to a ravenous house with an appetite for friends, Špiljak masterfully blends the allure of food and the thrill of mystery. Each story is a rich and satisfying serving of crime, with a twist that will leave you wanting more.

A must-read for fans of culinary noir and foodies who love a pinch of danger with their suspense. All recipes included are cyanide-free.

GuestPost

Hooked on culinary noir

When I wrote ‘Add Cyanide to Taste’ two years ago, I did it for my own pleasure, without worrying about the genre. Publishing, however, requires labels, only, which one to pick? Although my short stories were culinary mysteries, they weren’t exactly cosy, neither were they detective fiction. Some were classic hard-boiled mysteries, but there was also dark speculative fiction and horror.

So, how to label them and make sure that my ghosts and haunted houses don’t horrify unsuspecting readers? I didn’t want to promise a cosy read, only to sneak up behind the reader’s back and shout ‘booo’ when they put their feet up.

So I came up with culinary noir, feeling rather smug about having invented a new genre.

Noir, after all, allows for a certain mischief and darkness, while the culinary is the binding element of my stories. It means there’ll be some blood, some spooky stuff, ghosts and creepy dolls and a bit of magic, too.

Then, some months later, while preparing for the book launch, I discovered that culinary noir existed before I’d ‘invented’ it. One or two articles referenced it, but there were not so many books that carried the label. 

So I hadn’t made it up after all?

Rather than being disappointed, I was relieved. If the genre already existed, then it came with at least a few readers, who liked stories like mine. 

Once ‘Add Cyanide to Taste’ came out, it was clear there were more than just a few readers. People liked the stories and were happy to add culinary noir to their bookshelves. The book won an award and kept finding new readers. Some of them were book bloggers, and some of them tagged me in their review and asked for a sequel.

Until then, I hadn’t seriously considered writing another culinary noir collection, but I paused all the same and considered the request. 

Could I write another bunch of dark culinary mysteries? Yes, I certainly could, because I had quite a few story ideas already.

Did I want to? 

Well, yes. Writing those stories was fun and easy. The only problem was that I was kind of already in the middle of writing something else, having promised my time and attention to a bunch of entirely different stories.
What to do?

The only thing that made sense: I followed my gut feeling, abandoned the plans and started working on a new collectionof culinary noir.

‘Pass the Cyanide’ has kept the spirit of ‘Add Cyanide to Taste’, but brought fresh stories and characters. There are two speculative fiction stories with my own spin on vampires, a few whodunnits and a classic noir story set in Belgrade, my current hometown. There’s a holiday-themed story inspired by TikTok and there’s a story featuring artificial intelligence. Theidea for the latter came after a brief consultation with ChatGPT3. I’ve asked the tool to generate a few culinary mystery plot ideas which involved artificial intelligence, curious to see whether it would cast itself as a hero or as a villain. It did neither, and cast itself as a sidekick, a smart move on ChatGPT’s side. Though I didn’t like any of its suggested plots, I started contemplating my own plots featuring artificial intelligence. The result is ‘Ernest’s Choice’, the opening story of the collection.

I wanted to include the recipes, too, picking a few dishes from the stories, including cocktails, which might have had something to do with the blistering summer heat while writing the stories.

Even after finishing the book, I’m far from being done with writing in the genre. If anything, I am hooked on culinary noir and already planning the next book in the series.  

I’m calling the series ‘Cooking with Cyanide’, which is guaranteed to freak out the online bots, return some interesting personalised ads, and frighten my dinner guests, especially when asking about allergies.

But hey, that’s a small price to pay for the joy of writing new stories filled with delicious mayhem.

Willing to give them a try?

Check out this wonderful cover!

Synopsis

She’s writing her story one recipe at a time…

‘A delicious story that wraps itself around your heart’ Evie Woods, bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop

It’s been three years, two weeks and one day since Kate Shaw’s life changed forever. Three years, two weeks and one day that Kate has been angry – with herself and life.

But today is different. Different because Kate has finally taken the step she’s been avoiding…back into the kitchen. Now, what begins as a (disastrous) attempt to make pancakes becomes a culinary journey that is not only a love letter to someone so important to her, but also an unexpected means of connection to a community she never knew she had…

Pre-order Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Ingredient-Zara-Stoneley-ebook/dp/B0BF96B49J/

https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/the-secret-ingredient-sue-heath?variant=40275147096142

Publication Date: 15th February 2024

About the author

Sue Heath lives in Cheshire, England. When she isn’t working, she can often be found running around agility courses with her spaniel, and in the evenings, she loves to cook and spend time with family and friends.

‘The Secret Ingredient’ is an uplifting story that explores how a sense of community, sharing, friendship, love, and a feeling of belonging can help us make sense of life, find comfort, and heal. How we can find our happiness in ordinary things.

Sue has also written fourteen USA Today bestselling romcoms under the pseudonym Zara Stoneley and has sold over half a million copies of her stories worldwide.

You can find out more about Sue on her website – http://www.sueheath.co.uk

The cover