Category Archives: Book Review

Book Review – Queuing For The Queen By Sweta Rana

One queue. 250,000 people. Twenty-four life-changing hours.

A young boy wearing a cereal box crown, impatiently dragging his mother behind him.

A friendly man in a khaki raincoat, talking about his beloved Leeds United to anyone who will listen.

An elderly woman who has lived her life alongside the Queen, and is just hoping she’ll make it to the end of the queue to say goodbye.

And among them, a British Indian mother and daughter, driven apart by their differences, embarking on a pilgrimage which neither of them yet know will change their lives forever.

Full of secrets and surprises, this uplifting novel celebrates not only the remarkable woman who defined an era and a country, but also the diverse and unique people she served for so long.

Published Date: 11 May 2023

My Review

This touching novel, set against the backdrop of a recent event we all recall, beautifully intertwines the lives of a mother and daughter spanning 60 years. Skillfully balancing past and present, the story avoids the pitfall of overshadowing the present. Central to the tale is the strained bond between Rani and her daughter, Tania. Delving into Rani’s painful past, the book highlights her decision to distance her daughter from their cultural roots to shield her from the heartbreak Rani experienced. This protective act unintentionally fosters a rift between them, revealing how good intentions can sometimes lead to fractured relationships. This beautifully penned story offers many more layers for readers to uncover and is a truly rewarding read.

My Rating

Book Review – A Vintage Vacation By Maddie Please

Clover Harrington might be sixty-one, but she’s still bossing it in the corporate world and can still run rings around her younger colleagues. And then she is made redundant….

Devastated and now suddenly the wrong side of sixty Clover doesn’t know what to do with her life or her corporate wardrobe! What does she wear if not red lippy and a power suit?! Rather than offer her any support, her partner, Jack announces he’s off on a golfing weekend, leaving Clover completely adrift.

Desperate to get away from it all, Clover decides to visit her cousin Zoe at her small taverna in the gorgeous Italian Lakes. There she can rest and recuperate and plan the next stage of her life.

Until Clover’s eighty-year-old mother, Eleanor decides to turn up for the holiday too! Instead of gentle ambles around the lake, Eleanor seems more interested in late night poker and swigging Prosecco and Clover can’t quite believe her mum is having more fun than she is. But as the saying goes – if you can’t beat em, join em!

But is Clover brave enough to live La Dolce Vita?

Published Date : 30 May 2023

My Review

Clover, in her sixties, expects a promotion but is instead let go from her corporate job, shaking her identity. With a tumultuous personal life including a selfish partner, Jack, and an unsupportive mother, she escapes to her cousin Zoe’s taverna in the Italian Lakes. Initially overwhelmed, she slowly adapts, embracing the local lifestyle and potentially a new romantic interest. Unexpectedly, her mother Eleanor shows up, adding zest to the adventure as she’s determined to live life to its fullest. However, when a job opportunity presents itself to Clover, both women must reconsider their future paths.

I was captivated by the characters in this novel. It was enlightening to witness the transformation in both Clover and her mother as they began to view life through a new lens.Clover’s life was consumed by the demands of her corporate job, leaving no room for personal connections. Meanwhile, her mother Eleanor felt trapped and discontented in a retirement community. Worried about her daughter’s well-being, Eleanor impulsively travels to Italy, intending to bring Clover back to reality. However, she herself becomes enamored with the Italian way of life and a captivating Italian gentleman.

Maddie Please’s prose brims with wit, vibrancy, and zest. Her characters pull you into their world, and I found myself completely engrossed in the plot. It’s an uplifting tale sprinkled with many laugh-out-loud moments. Overall, it is delightful and heartwarming romance story.

My Rating

Book Review – The Coach Trip By Izzy Bromley

In this heartwarming story of hope and second chances, Emma and Mel are about to discover that sometimes life is about the journey, not the destination…

Classic forgetful Emma—she’s done it again, this time accidentally ruining a Valentine’s Day surprise for her best friend Mel. Desperate to make up for it, she promises Mel a birthday trip to Edinburgh—a girls’ weekend to end all girls’ weekends. There’s just one massive hitch…

Emma has already promised her grandma that she’ll go on a coach trip with her to scatter her grandad’s ashes…In Edinburgh. On Mel’s birthday weekend. Oh God.

That’s right, with one innocent but inevitable diary clash, two very different road trips are thrust together. Surrounded by a bunch of septuagenarians who seem to have forgotten how to have fun, can Emma support Grandma through her grief and give Mel a birthday to remember? Or is their friendship doomed to become roadkill? She’s about to find out…

Published Date: 16 May 2023

My Review

Emma commits to celebrating her best friend Mel’s birthday in a special way but accidentally overbooks herself, having also promised to accompany her grandmother on a coach trip. This trip was initially an anniversary gift for her grandfather, who tragically passed away before they could go. Despite initial reservations, both young women join the trip with biases about the elderly. As the week unfolds, their misconceptions are beautifully dispelled. Many find it difficult to empathize with the challenges the elderly face, such as the slow-paced woman or the man delaying the supermarket queue.

This tale beautifully bridges the gap between generations, challenging stereotypes about age. It’s a touching story of laughter, love, and learning, providing readers with a memorable and heartwarming experience.

My Rating

Book Review – FBI Agent’s Reluctant Lover By Leslie North

True love is worth fighting for…

Single mother Rachel has enough on her plate with two rambunctious twin boys to raise. Still mourning her husband, she isn’t looking for romance—until Chance, a strikingly handsome ex-FBI agent, shows up at her door.

While it’s clear Rachel knows nothing about his case involving a kidnapped baby, it’s also obvious she’s in over her head with her own little ones. Chance steps in to help, and suddenly all the chaos of her life seems to disappear. Chance is caring, hot, and he has a calming way about him that soothes her soul—and fires up her desire. But love? She’s not sure she’s ready for that…

No two ways about it… Chance is enthralled by Rachel. She’s everything he’s ever wanted in a woman. Smart, strong, and beautiful—more than enough to get him imagining what it would be like to be in her life permanently. Unfortunately, Rachel doesn’t seem nearly as interested in him as he is in her.

When he was an FBI agent, Chance always got the results he wanted. But now that he has found the perfect woman, can he convince her that he is what she wants?

Published Date: 4 May 2023

My Review

Rachel is overwhelmed with her kids and household chores, grieving her late husband. Even in her despair, she remains resilient. Chance, upon meeting Rachel, feels a protective urge he’s never experienced. He supports her without overstepping. Their love story blossoms under unique circumstances: Rachel’s chaotic home life and Chance’s initial investigation into a suspected kidnapping. Despite the odds, the two form a deep connection in this blend of humor, romance, and a hint of danger. This tale seamlessly shifts between endearing moments and passionate intensity, making for an engaging read.

My Rating

Book Review – A Taste Of Italian Sunshine By Leonie Mack

Jenn has always prided herself on being a city girl – she insists on easy access to good coffee, great food from around the globe, not to mention an easy commute. So, when her job takes her to one of the most famous Italian wine regions in search of the perfect Prosecco, travelling to meetings on a tractor is a bit of a culture shock.

Tiziano hates the city.  He was made for the mountains and vineyards of Veneto, and generations of his family have earned their living from the land. But times are changing even in the Italian countryside, and the arrival of Jenn at his grandmother’s B&B opens up a window on a different world.

Jenn has two months to persuade the Prosecco producers to trust her with their business, and Tiziano has one summer to persuade Jenn that there’s more to life than the rat race. But can a city girl and a country boy ever find enough in common to see a future beyond one long summer of sun…

Published Date: 12 May 2023

My Review

Jenn Park is a budding wine connoisseur responsible for selecting the finest prosecco for her employer. However, upon arriving in Veneto and witnessing the beauty of the agriturismo, she’s forced to abandon her preconceptions and fully immerse herself in the experience. An introverted and isolated Jenn learns to lean on others, including the dashing tractor-driving grandson of her landlady. Although he consistently points out her flaws and introduces her to the locals, she discovers there’s more to him than just a rural man with a disdain for urban life. As she explores the region, she acquaints herself with the local community and their way of life. Overall, the book offers a delightful summer read with its vivid landscapes and flavors to me.

My Rating

Book Review – Summer In Tuppenny Bridge By Sharon Booth

It’s July in Tuppenny Bridge. The warm air swirls with butterflies and violets tumble from the window boxes of the pretty stone cottages lining the market square. Summer Fletcher – handy barmaid, devoted stablehand and definitely her mother’s daughter – is ready for a lazy summer in the Yorkshire Dales, but fate has other plans… 

Summer and her mum soon find their hands full with the arrival of her future stepsister, Frankie – a blue-haired teen firecracker who’s nothing like the sweet little girl they remember. Meanwhile, local vet Ben is struggling – buried under a mountain of responsibility with trying to keep his crumbling family home Monk’s Folly standing, while supporting his reclusive mother and errant younger brother.

When Summer and Ben unexpectedly cross paths in the local bookshop, sparks fly… but despite Summer’s name, it isn’t all sunshine and roses. In Tuppenny Bridge, gossip travels fast, and each of them has their own demons they can’t quite leave behind. Will the weight of their pasts tear them apart just when they need each other the most?

With more than one heart in need of mending, a beloved old horse named Shadow, a missing pair of young lovers, and a family wedding on the cards – it will be a summer that the residents of Tuppenny Bridge will never forget.

Published Date: 16 May 2023

My Review

Summer Fletcher is navigating major family shifts, grappling with commitment issues due to her father’s infidelity, and adjusting to a new teen step-sister, Frankie, all while working at her family pub. Concurrently, Ben is struggling to preserve his ancestral home, Monk’s Folly, after the death of his father and brother. Despite knowing each other for years, when Summer and Ben cross paths again, an undeniable spark ignites. As they grow closer, they embark on a journey of self-discovery, acceptance, and love.

This book delves into the themes of mourning a loss and seizing a second chance at the life one deserves. While I admire Ben’s sense of responsibility, his occasional obliviousness to its effects on him can be frustrating. Nonetheless, I found the read to be thoroughly enjoyable

My Rating

Book Review – The Memory Of You By Samantha Tonge

Alex would like to believe she’s a woman who has it all. Or that’s what she tells everyone, including herself. But this is far from true. Actually she’s on the cusp of losing her home, her dream career as a writer is in tatters, her ex won’t speak to her, and her mother’s gone forever.

But then a chance meeting with a stranger named Hope gives her the opportunity of a lifetime, when Hope jokes that perhaps Alex should take over her job in a café while she goes travelling.

Just at that moment, it sounds like the answer to all her problems. So Alex persuades Hope to let her step into her shoes for a month. She brushes away Hope’s attempts to explain about the café, instead demanding to know more about the owner Tom.

But she should have asked for more details. Because the ‘Wrong Order Café’ isn’t like anywhere she’s ever been before. And Alex’s life is about to change forever…

Published Date: 16 May 2023

My Review

In the book centering around the Wrong Order Cafe, the narrative sensitively addresses the topic of dementia. The cafe, previously run by Tom’s now dementia-afflicted father, has workers Renee and Fletch who, due to early stages of dementia, often mix up orders. Alex steps in to replace Hope, residing in the apartment above the cafe while Hope is on vacation. Initially seeking an escape from her declining writing career and poor life decisions, Alex, who starts off as rather self-centered, almost abandons the cafe. However, she soon recognizes the profound impact of the cafe and undergoes significant personal growth as she confronts various challenges. The book, commended for its research and heartfelt writing, encapsulates themes of love and kindness, deeply resonating with the reader.

My Rating

Book Review – Not Today, Cupid By Jennifer Bonds

Notes from Triada Investment Meeting:

As compiled by Scarlett Evans—executive assistant, grad student, and reluctant admirer of CEO Nick Hart’s snacktastic abs

Well, my fellow corporate drones, it’s another less-than-exciting investor meeting with the executives (Loud Talker, Human Buzzword, Master Delegator). And at the front, CEO Nick Hart, the world’s coldest—and ok, unbelievably sexy—tech badass. The man hasn’t smiled in the history of ever, he runs a tight ship filled with miserable employees, and gosh, he just really does not love feedback. Especially from me.

Development updates, acquisition delays, and…holy hell, why does he keep looking at me? I don’t work for him. I work for his brother. Which is good, because otherwise I’d spend every meeting secretly wondering what actually lies beneath that cool, aloof demeanor. Like, is he an uptight geek in the boardroom…and a sexy-assed freak in the bedroom?

He’d better not find out I’m the one stuffing the company suggestion box. What’s so wrong with a Valentine’s Day Social, anyway? But the fact that my notes are less professional and more entertainment is one seriously dangerous game. Because if he ever found out what I really thought of him, there’d be all kinds of sweet, delicious hell to pay…

Published Date: 8 May 2023

My Review

Nick Hart, a meticulous co-founder of Triada Tech, struggles to retain an assistant. He resorts to borrowing his brother’s assistant, Scarlett, for note-taking. At first, he perceives her as timid, but her candid, witty notes catch his attention. As they collaborate on a Valentine’s Day event, their relationship blossoms.

The novel presents a delightful romance, brimming with witty exchanges, palpable chemistry, and passionate moments. Scarlett’s chapters, alternating in perspective, are particularly sassy and entertaining. Both protagonists exhibit substantial character development, making them endearing to readers.

Scarlett’s unique background as an industrial organizational psychology student adds depth and rationalizes her actions throughout. The plot features a communication mishap, resulting in both hilarious and cringeworthy moments, culminating in a significant gesture by one character in the climax.

My Rating

Book Review – Playing For Keeps By Julie Hammerle

Bryce Barrett has disappeared off the face of the earth. Well, technically she’s just temporarily hiding out in a teeny Midwest town, away from her ruined marriage and professional demise…at least until she can figure out her next steps. But when she bumps into her ex—dressed in what could be only described as “dumpster chic”—she does the only reasonable thing a woman can do: panics and pretends the cute security guard on the scene is her new boyfriend.

Free-spirited nomad Jake Warner knew returning to his hometown was a bad idea. It’s bad enough that his family’s pressuring him to step into his dad’s hypercompetitive shoes and settle down, but when a complete stranger (cute, though possibly unbalanced) enlists him as her fake boyfriend, Jake knows he’s making some questionable choices…especially when he inexplicably goes along with it.

Now these two mismatched misfits are temporary allies against a town filled with happy, normal, and annoyingly stable people. Fake dating keeps everyone off their back while they plot their respective escapes. But nothing botches a plan more than unexpected chemistry…

Published Date: 8 May 2023

My Review

Bryce Barrett, after facing a professional setback in Chicago, finds herself in a Midwest town where she meets Jake Warner, a security personnel at a resort. They enter a fake dating relationship for personal reasons, and despite Jake’s intent to leave town after saving money, they form a close bond. The story delves into serious issues such as suicide and opioid addiction. Jake struggles with his manipulative family and past issues. While the narrative is engaging, some resolutions, like Jake’s swift career transition and Bryce’s dropped legal advice, seem overly simplified and don’t do justice to the complexities introduced in the story.

My Rating

Book Review – Fly Me To Paris By Helga Jensen

Can Penny find the courage to spread her wings?

Penny is not living her best life.  Her job is far from thrilling and her long-term boyfriend shows no sign of wanting to commit.  She has just turned fifty and is going nowhere.

Wanting a new start, Penny applies for a job as cabin crew, to find out if she can push herself out of her comfort zone.

Her new job brings the adventure she craves, even if she does keep bumping into impossibly handsome but deeply annoying pilot, Matt Garcia.

Stuck in Paris on an unscheduled stopover, the chemistry between them grows. But the path of love never did fly smooth, as Matt’s past threatens to come between them.

Beside which, Penny is not looking for love. But what if love finds her?

Published Date: 18 May 2023

My Review

Penny, a reserved woman in Wales, contemplates her unfulfilled dreams of travel and adventure as she turns fifty. After her non-committal boyfriend breaks up with her, an unexpected meeting with an airline stewardess leads her to apply for a cabin crew job. She’s chosen and undergoes transformative training. As Penny embraces her new role, she discovers passion in her job, forms valuable friendships, and explores Europe, even finding hints of a new romance. The book underscores the idea that it’s never too late to pursue dreams and make significant life changes, regardless of age or societal expectations.

My Rating