Category Archives: Book Review

Review Card & Book Review – The Mother Of All Problems By Nancy Peach

When did having it all become doing it all?

Penny Baker is coping. Just about.

Three kids, one dog, one lovely but sometimes oblivious husband. Tick, tick tick.

She is even managing to hold her own among the competitive school mums – if you don’t look too closely. But when she finds herself also caring for her elderly mother, diagnosed with dementia, the household is thrown into disarray and Penny finds herself stretched to breaking point trying to meet everyone’s needs.

Can she make the new family situation work? And is there any chance of finding some space in it all for herself?

About The Author

My Review

Penny, the protagonist, is a relatable figure for many middle-aged women who juggle multiple responsibilities, including caring for aging parents. The book deftly blends comedy and pathos, capturing the struggles and joys of being part of the “sandwich generation.” As Penny cares for her mother, who has dementia, and juggles her other responsibilities, readers experience moments of laughter and tears. The story offers a realistic portrayal of the challenges faced by caregivers while also delivering messages of hope, humor, and the importance of self-care. It sheds light on the realities of dementia caregiving while emphasizing the need for support and acknowledgment of one’s own limitations. Despite the heavy subject matter, the book is uplifting and leaves readers feeling seen and understood.

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Review Card & Book Review – The Faking Game By Portia MacIntosh

Faking Dating 💔

Only One Bed 🛏️

Love Triangle 🔺

Lovers to Enemies 🌶️

The BRAND NEW laugh-out-loud fake relationship romantic comedy from top 10 bestseller Portia MacIntosh! Cara and Millsy have broken up… sort of.

After years of being everyone’s favourite couple, always up for a party and having fun wherever they go, things have fizzled out.

But when they realise they have a whole calendar of events and celebrations with friends and family coming up, Cara and Millsy can’t face letting them down.

So they decide to make a pact: just convince everyone they’re as madly in love as ever and get through the festivities without causing suspicion, and then deal with the break up in the new year. How hard can it be…?

Swept up in the festive spirit, will Cara and Millsy fake it til they make it? Or will they realise they are meant to be after all…?

About The Author

My Review

Cara and Millsy decide to pretend to be together during a holiday trip to Scotland to avoid upsetting their families after breaking up due to long-distance challenges. As they fake their relationship, Cara realizes she still loves Millsy, but he seems to have moved on. Classic miscommunication ensues, causing tension and jealousy. Portia MacIntosh’s “The Faking Game” is a captivating fake-dating romcom that explores the dynamics of relationships during the festive season. Despite some love triangle elements, the book’s fast pace, intense mood, and sizzling romance make it an engaging read.

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Review Card & Book Review – When We Were Friends By Samantha Tonge

Four friends, one big secret… and the journey of a lifetime.

It’s nineteen years since they stopped speaking to each other, but now Morgan needs to contact her three best friends from school: Paige, Emily and Tiff.

Her teenage son wants to meet his dad and Morgan can’t ignore his requests any longer. And Paige, Emily and Tiff all knew what actually happened back then. Even if that was what led to their friendship group falling apart, they’re the only people Morgan can think of who might be able help her find the man who disappeared without a trace before she could tell him she was pregnant.

Can Morgan persuade her old friends to go on a road trip to track him down? As adults – with marriages, children and a whole bucket-load of their own problems – will they be able to work together to solve the mystery? And if so – just when forgiveness for the past looks like it might be possible – how will they cope with the biggest shock of all?

About The Author

My Review

In their school days, Morgan, Paige, Emily, and Tiff formed a close-knit group called the Secret Gift Society, using their “superpowers” to stand up to bullies and help others. However, their friendship fractured on prom night due to a boy’s betrayal, leading to nineteen years of estrangement. Now, Morgan, a single mother, seeks their help as her son prepares for university and wants to know more about his father. Reuniting proves challenging as they confront their pasts, secrets, and unresolved issues. As their individual stories unfold, the complexity of their characters, unexpected twists, and emotional depth captivate readers, making this book impossible to forget.

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Review Card & Book Review – Christmas At The Chateau By Annabel French

Life has gone a little bit downhill for Naomi Winters…

Ever since her ex-husband Ollie filed for a divorce last Christmas, Naomi is a self-confessed scrooge. She hates her job, has exactly zero hobbies, and on top of that she’s all alone this holiday season.

Spurred on by her best-friend Mia – who has invited her to spend Christmas at her snow-kissed Chateau in the Swiss Alps – she decides it’s time for change.

But, when she arrives, she’s shocked to see Mia’s big brother Gabriel. It’s been fifteen years since they last saw eachother, forcing her to face memories she’d rather forget.

As Naomi grapples with getting her life back on track, she throws herself into various festive activities, and she can’t seem to escape Gabriel this time…

Will he manage to thaw her icy heart, or is she on a downward slope to disappointment?

About The Author

My Review

Naomi Winters is going through a bitter divorce and spends the holidays with her best friend Mia at her chateau in Switzerland. There, she reunites with Mia’s brother Gabriel, with whom she shares a mysterious past. Amidst hilarious skiing adventures and visits to the Christmas Market, Naomi confronts her insecurities stemming from her adoption and materialistic upbringing. Through helping Mia with the community Christmas gala, Naomi discovers what truly matters in life and finds the courage to pursue her own happiness. This heartwarming story explores themes of love, friendship, self-discovery, and the magic of the holiday season against the backdrop of a picturesque Swiss town.

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Review Card & Book Review – Finding Family At The Cornish Cove By Kim Nash

Family is everything…

For years, Gemma has been running her late mother’s café with devotion, and when an opportunity comes to buy out her next-door neighbour and expand, she jumps at the chance.

She knows she will do her mother proud – keep her legacy going strong – but deep down she knows there’s still something missing.

But sometimes family are those you choose, or those who choose you! With a growing community of supporters cheering Gemma on, will she really spend the rest of her life alone?

And with some new faces at her blossoming bistro, perhaps romance may also be on the cards?

About The Author

My Review

In this delightful sequel to the first book in the series, Gemma, who runs a seafront café, takes center stage. With support from her sister Lucy and friends Meredith and Clem, Gemma embarks on expanding her café, all while grappling with memories of happier times with her mother. The story is rich with well-developed characters and heartwarming relationships, including a lovely romance and the endearing bond between Gemma and a troubled teenager named Occy. Gemma’s relatable struggles and the perfect balance of heartbreak and warmth make for an emotionally engaging read. With twists, surprises, and plenty of laughter, this book is beautifully written and leaves readers eagerly anticipating more adventures in Driftwood Bay.

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Review Card & Book Review – Snow Days With You By Leonie Mack

When Luna Rowntree gets an unexpected and life-changing legacy from a man she’s never met, she’s determined to find out why – even if it is Christmas Day and her family are expecting her.

So, with only her mother’s ashes for company – it’s a long story, but Luna knows her mother would have wanted to come on the adventure too – Luna sets off in her trusty Astra to the skiing resort in Chamonix, where her mysterious benefactor had lived.

But her little car isn’t designed for driving through snow-covered mountains, and when she runs out of fuel heart-breakingly close to Chamonix, Luna is relieved to be saved by her very own knight-in-shining armour. Well, knight in mountain rescue uniform anyway.

Yannick is charmed if baffled by Luna’s mission, and before he knows it, he has agreed to help. But Yannick has his own secrets calling him from the mountains, and his own reasons to run away. As he helps Luna understand her past he realises he has to face his as well if he’s ever going to risk opening his heart to love.

About The Author

My Review

This book is not your typical Christmas read despite its snowy cover and mention of the holiday. Instead, it’s a captivating tale of Luna’s quest to uncover the source of an unexpected insurance payment. Abandoning her family’s Christmas plans, Luna embarks on a journey to Chamonix with her mother’s ashes in tow and a dodgy fuel gauge in her car. Along the way, she finds friendship, romance, and surprising revelations about her mother’s past. Leonie Mack’s storytelling shines in this novel, with realistic characters, vivid descriptions of the mountain setting, and an emotional depth that keeps readers engaged. From the challenges faced by the mountain rescue team to Luna’s own personal journey of bravery and determination, “Luna’s Windfall” is an exceptional read that will leave you thoroughly captivated.

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Review Card & Book Review – The Starfish Sisters By Barbara O’Neal

Phoebe and Suze used to be closer than sisters. Growing up in a quiet and wildly beautiful coastal town in Oregon, they shared everything. Until the secrets they couldn’t share threatened their bond and complicated their lives.

Now, decades later, Suze, a famous actress desperate for safe haven following a brutal attack, is back in town. Phoebe, a successful illustrator and fabric designer, has discovered keeping a secret means she can’t let anyone get close, aside from her beloved granddaughter, Jasmine. As Jasmine’s move to London looms, Phoebe doesn’t know how to face the return of her old friend and all that’s still unsaid between them. Can the two women who’ve never confronted their past do it now when the choice is between healing and survival?

About The Author

My Review

The story revolves around the deep bond between Phoebe and Suze, who met as children and formed a strong friendship that endured through the years despite challenges. Told from two perspectives and timelines, the narrative explores the complexities of female friendships, including bliss, betrayal, and heartbreak. As adults, Phoebe and Suze must confront past hurts and learn to trust each other again if they want to salvage their relationship. The story delves into themes of forgiveness, resilience, and the lasting impact of childhood experiences on adult relationships.

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Review Card & Book Review – Protecting Mandy By Leslie North

Even an ace mechanic can’t repair a broken heart…

When Mandy’s father died he left her alone, heartbroken, and buried in crippling debt to an unscrupulous bookie. Now, Mandy’s the proud owner of an auto repair business whose only other mechanic just quit. Things couldn’t get any worse. Until former Navy SEAL Chance McCallister, the man who broke her heart when they were teens, walks through her door. He’s looking to help, and even hotter than she remembers. She’d be crazy to hire him as her new mechanic.

And she’d be even crazier to fall in love with him again…

Chance knows Mandy’s in trouble. And even though he doesn’t want to get involved, he just can’t stop those feelings flooding his heart, the same way they did when he was a kid. Nothing has changed… Except Mandy is even more beautiful, more fierce, more everything. But he’s not going down that road again. One messy breakup is enough. He’ll protect her. He’ll put his life on the line. And he’ll do what he can to keep her safe.

But this time, he’ll protect his own heart as well…

About The Author

My Review

Chance and Mandy were once high school sweethearts, but their relationship ended when Chance joined the Navy without telling Mandy. Now, 12 years later, Chance returns to town for his father’s funeral and discovers Mandy struggling with her father’s gambling debts. Determined to help her, Chance starts working as a mechanic in Mandy’s garage. As they reconnect, they must confront their past and navigate the dangers posed by loan sharks. Chance’s military training comes in handy as they devise a plan to save Mandy’s garage and their budding romance. Despite challenges, they hope for a second chance at love. The story tackles realistic issues while delivering a heartwarming romance.

My Rating

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