A Twisty Mystery

I love a bit of mystery and The Dark Days at the Beach Hotel by Francesca Capaldi delivers a great read with lots of twists and turns from a wonderful cast of characters. Helen Bygrove and her husband are going…

Keep Your Friends Close

If you enjoy a twisty turny thriller you are going to absolutely love this book.  Keep Your Friends Close by Joanne Ryan is a skillfully written thriller, that examines ordinary people and how instances in time can change everything. Best…

What happens if Twins are separated?

I read voraciously. I consume books at two to three a week, and sometimes even faster.  The Good Twin is a gripping thriller that had me totally consumed.  I started, and then couldn’t stop. Without giving too much away, let…

A delightful Romcom that made me seriously nostalgic

I did, Did I – by the wonderful Luna Hayes is a debut romance novel set in my native South Africa.  This wondeful cute story about Hannah and Siris who bond over a shared love of Pizza and more. Hannah…

Child for Sale

I read Child for Sale by Pam Howes like a voraciously hungry person because I felt compelled.  Stories and shows about the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland always break my heart, but I feel like I have to watch them, and…

Keep Her Secret – If you Dare

It’s a funny thing reading to be scared, to be thrilled and to be uncomfortable, but I do love a psychological thriller.  I think it is the fact that what happens in a book like Keep Her Secret by best…

Where Waters Meet – and woman learn

Travel between the pages of this wonderful book – Where Waters Meet, which is an epic saga of two woman, a mother and daughter.  I promise you will be transported back in time and across continents reading this wonderful English…

We all deserve a bit of happiness

Every book I read evokes a different set of emotions and this book, The Matchmaker by Catherine Walsh was pure delight.  I read it over two days and enjoyed it so much.  It is a fun read, that explores the…

We all have shadows in our lives

I was asked to be part of a book tour for debut author, Nicole T Smith, and even before reading the blurb I said yes.  Why?  Because one day (hopefully soon) I will be in the same position and I…

Strong women survive

I love a book that looks at things from a different perspective.  I have read loads fo WWII fiction and it still surprises and delights me when an author takes a different view of things.  This history we know, but…

A Journey of Hope

Today, on the blog I have a treat for you. An exclusvie extract from the newe novel, The Last Letter from Paris by Kate Eastham. Enjoy, and I hope it tempts you into reading it! P R O L O…

Being a Mother …

I read a lot.  I am not sure how many books it was last year but I think about eighty.  For 2023 I am determined to keep track of it.  It is also so good to reflect on the list,…

Kerry Tucker Learns to Live

Well as you can imagine, the minute I saw this title I just knew I had to read it.  Firstly the main character is called Kerry, and secondly anyone who can overcome their past has a special place in my…

It’s Christmas and time for romance

Different books evoke different emotions.  As many of you know I have been going through quite a bit with my health.  So much so that I didn’t want to read (this never ever happens as I average over 100 books…

Is it safer to choose to be locked away?

Sometimes books surprise you.  What makes you buy them.  Is the description, the author or the cover?  The Locked Away Life by Drew Davies surprised me, and delighted me all at once.  It is a masterful tale, introducing an unlikely…

The book you have to read!

If you could see my space, (office/studio/craft room) you would know that my passions are art and writing.  These are the things that get me up in the morning. The only thing stopping me from starting the day, is my…

Discover Italy through an amazing journey

My love of reading is so secret. I like nothing more than a great book, a large mug of tea and the time to transport myself into other worlds. The Postcard from Italy by Angela Petch will do just that….

From Paris with Love

I read voraciously.  I don’t even dare count how many books I read last year, because it would highlight how much else I didn’t do.  I read all genres, and enjoy most of what I read. Joining blog tours, like…

A Tale of Trust – The Orphan’s Secret

When you hear a book called a page turner, I often think of a thriller, or something equally suspenseful.  The Orphan’s Secret is a beautifully written page turner, that will transport you to the 1940s and a country at war….

Messages from the past:  A Letter from Nana Rose

Every day I journal.  I write down my thoughts and plans, my dreams and my secrets.  I have given instructions that should something happen to me, they are to be used as fuel for the fire.  They aren’t to be…

Be very wary of strong woman on a mission

Be prepared to be totally absorbed by this gritty crime novel by author Emma Tallon.  Her Rival will transport you to the East End of London and into the lives of veryt strong woman, beautifully complex and totally engaging. Meet…

A beautiful emotional journey in a book

As many of you know I aspire to be a novelist.  I am writing every day, and dream of a day when it will be my book people will be reviewing.  Writers envy There it is – the green monster…

Pretty Broken Dolls

A killer that poses their victims as pretty broken dolls. I literally lay in the bath reading – my favourite reading place – until the water was cold.  I couldn’t stop until I reached the end. Pretty Broken Dolls was…

Would you be happy inside- forever?

The thing I love most about being part of the book community is opening my mind and heart to reading almost anything.  As I read on Kindle, I don’t read back covers anymore, I simply dive in, ready to live…

Is a Secretary ever just that?

Get ready for a roller coaster of a read!  When the opportunity came up to review Catherine Hokin’s book, The Secretary, I jumped at it.  I read The Lost Mother (read the review here), I just knew that I wanted…

This book stole my heart and made me paint!

There are times when a book comes along and it is as though it was written specifically for you.  Her Family Secret but Melissa Wiesner would get six stars if I could award them. This book not only stole my…

Damaged people are dangerous – My Husband’s Girlfriend

My Husband’s Girlfriend by Sheryl Browne is masterful.  It is a story about damaged people.  Not necessarily bad people, but people who have themselves being harmed by the circumstances of life, and then become dangerous themselves. On the surface it…

A wonderful twisty whodunnit for you to read

History teaches us lessons about the present.  I have really enjoyed delving into historical novels recently, and most especially learning about history, and it’s many facets.  The Tuscan House is a wonderful example of a rich historical novel. In each…

Who are the Fragile Ones?

The Fragile ones:  little innocent children who simply want to go out and play.  I read The Fragile Ones, by Jennifer Chase in little more than a day. This book is extremely well written and tells a tale of two…

Are you the pretty one in the family – a chilling book for you to read

When I was reading this book, I was literally carrying my kindle around the house.  I took it with me to read while I waited for the toast to pop, I was  reading which watching TV and yes, I even…

A World War 2 Book that opened my eyes to another side of the suffering.

Are you one of those people who watch a show like the Crown, and spend half the time googling to check how factually correct it is? I am.  I have learnt so much about history by indulging in my passion…

Does Collagen work? I always wanted to know ….

Over the past few years I have become quite obsessed with my wrinkles.  Some of the time, I feel I have earned them, and then at other times I resent them. I have come to terms with my age, with…

The complexity of a faithless marriage

What would you do if you suspected your husband of being unfaithful.  Cut up his clothes, change the locks or simply go home and make a wonderful dinner for your perfect family? A book with many themes that will keep…

Would you marry a stranger?

One of my new year’s resolutions was to be more adventurous in my reading.  To try different things, and I am so glad I did. The Company Daughters is a book that will remain with you long after you have…

Hope, Health and Happiness

When I can’t get to sleep at night I have a little breathing ritual to calm my mind.  As I breath in I imagine health, and when I breath out I feel gratitude.   This has become an important part of…

Be Careful What you Listen To …..

Whoa-Town is a boy band, a very successful boy band, put together by music mogul Rick Reeves. The Future Stars of America is the talent competition everyone wants to enter and these five lucky singers have won a place in…

The Art of Doing Nothing

I am not very good at doing nothing. In fact I am not even very good at doing one thing at a time. I am the person who grabs for my phone to check Facebook or play a game while…

The Tale of Two Books and a delightful surprise

I’m having a reading binge.  Just allowing myself read and enjoy and to an extent leave the housework for another day. I have very eclectic taste in reading.  I have my favourite genres, but I’ll give anything a try.  The…

Loving my skin with Yves Saint Laurent Pure Shots

I haven’t always loved my skin.  As a child I hated my freckles and would have done almost anything to get rid of them.  Through adulthood it wasn’t too bad, and I joked about my fabulous fatness reducing the amount…

Six Easy Ways to Get Your Home Summer-Ready

#AD. In the interest of disclosure and transparency, the syndication of this article has been provided and paid for by FBD Insurance Most of us are spending more time than ever at home right now, and that can be a…

Me and my Body – and a plus size bikini

Does it really matter what you look like?  If you have lumps and bumps?  If you are super skinny or really curvy?  I have realised that it doesn’t matter at all. I have been sitting on this blog post for…

What About the Nanny?

Reading the Nanny at No 43 by Nicola Cassidy was like being immersed in another world, a world many years ago where intrigue and mystery and wonderful charactarisation drew me into a story that I didn’t want to end.  I…

Corona Virus and Me

We have all been impacted by the rapid transmission of the Corona virus and the diagnosis of Covid 19 in so many.  Everything has changed. Right now, I am keeping as well as I can and have elected to socially…

Beautiful Mayo along the Wild Atlantic Way

Mayo stole my heart.  This beautiful county was my home for three years.  I was welcomed by the wonderful warm people and enchanted by the magnificent surroundings.  I return to Mayo as often as I can. The Wild Atlantic Way…

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