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SquadPod 2024 Favourites

It’s become a tradition to share a post featuring the SquadPod’s favourite books of the year and find out what our favourite reads are collectively. In 2024 we’ve been fortunate to read some amazing books both individually and as a team, so I’ve loved looking at these lists.

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Read to the end to find out our book of the year…

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Emma at Emma’s Biblio Treasures
  • Frank and Red – Matt Coyne
  • The List of Suspicious Things – Jennie Godfrey
  • The Silence in Between – Josie Ferguson
  • The Betrayal of Thomas True – A. J. West
  • The Nightingale – Kristin Hannah
  • One of the Good Guys – Araminta Hall
  • Clytemnestra – Costanza Casati
  • The Women – Kristin Hannah
  • Small Hours – Bobby Palmer
  • Prima Facie – Suzie Miller
  • The Household – Stacey Halls
  • The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers – Samuel Burr
  • The Theatre of Glass and Shadow – Anne Corlett
  • The Maiden – Kate Foster
  • Spoilt Creatures – Amy Twigg
  • Redemption – Jack Jordan
  • The House of Fever – Polly Crosby
  • The House in the Cerulean Sea – TJ Klune
  • The Examiner – Janice Hallett
  • Circus of Mirrors – Julie Owen Moylan
  • The Burial Plot – Elizabeth Macneal
  • The Book of Witching – C. J. Cooke
  • The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne – Freya North
  • Black Woods, Blue Sky -Eowyn Ivey
  • The Marriage Portrait – Maggie O’Farrell

Book of the Year: Frank and Red – Matt Coyne

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Sue at Brown Flopsy’s Book Burrow
  • All I Want For Christmas – Karen Swan
  • Because She Looked Away – Alison Bruce
  • Circus of Mirrors – Julie Owen Moylan
  • Dark as Night – Lilja Sigurdardottir
  • First Lie Wins – Ashley Elston
  • Frank and Red – Matt Coyne
  • Geneva – Richard Armitage
  • How To Solve Murders Like a Lady – Hannah Dolby
  • In Bloom – Eva Verde
  • In the Blink of an Eye – Jo Callaghan
  • Leaving – Roxana Robinson
  • Living is a Problem – Doug Johnstone
  • Love Game – Emma Rae
  • Nightbloom – Peace Adzo Medie
  • Nothing Without Me – Helen Monks Takhar
  • Original Sins – Erin Young
  • Palisade – Lou Gilmond
  • Prima Facie – Suzie Miller
  • Second Chances at the Board Game Cafe – Jennifer Page
  • The Bedlam Cleaver – Robert J. Lloyd
  • The Betrayal of Thomas True – A. J. West
  • The Comeback – Ella Berman
  • The Enigma Girl – Henry Porter
  • The Final Act of Juliette Whilouby – Ellery Lloyd
  • The Last Summer – Karen Swan
  • The Maiden – Kate Foster
  • The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne – Freya North
  • The Wreckage of Us – Dan Malakin
  • Theatre of Glass and Shadows – Anne Corlett
  • Victim – Jorn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger

Book of the Year: Frank and Red – Matt Coyne

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Vik at Vik’s Book Haven
  • Frank and Red – Matt Coyne
  • Clickbait – LC North
  • MILF – Paloma Faith
  • Breaking the Dark – Lisa Jewell
  • Mercy Chair – M. W. Craven
  • Death Watcher – Chris Carter
  • The Ice Retreat – Ruth Kelly
  • Don’t You Want Me Baby – Rachel Dove
  • After the Storm – G. D. Wright
  • The Clique – Rhiannon Barnsley
  • The Guests – Nikki Smith
  • My Daughter’s Revenge – Natali Simmonds
  • Date With Destiny – Lucy Vine
  • Someone in the Attic – Andrea Mara
  • A Good Place to Hide a Body – Laura Marshall
  • Message Deleted – K. L. Slater
  • The Night She Dies – Sarah Clarke
  • The Intruders – Louise Jensen
  • Darling Girls – Sally Hepworth
  • The Trade Off – Sandie Jones
  • The Familly Manda – Sue Heller
  • What Stays Unsaid – Sophie Flynn
  • How To Kill A Guy in Ten Ways – Eve Kellerman
  • Lights Out – Louise Swanson
  • The Phantom Child – A. J. Willis

Books of the Year: Frank and Red – Matt Coyne & Clickbait – L. C. North

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Jen at Travels Along My Bookshelf
  • The List Of Suspicious Things – Jennie Godfrey
  • The Glassmaker – Tracy Chevalier
  • Circus Of Mirrors – Julie Owen Moylan
  • In All Weathers – Matt Gaw
  • A Silent Tsunami – Anthea Rowan
  • Clear – Carys Davies
  • The Unfinished Business Of Eadie Browne – Freya North
  • Frank and Red – Matt Coyne
  • The Final Act Of Juliet Willoughby – Ellery Lloyd
  • The Betrayal Of Thomas True – AJ West
  • The Trouble With Mrs Montgomery Hurst – Katie Lumsden
  • Miss Austen Investigates – Jessica Bull
  • A Lively Midwinter Murder – Katy Watson
  • Someone At A Distance – Dorothy Whipple
  • Five Little Pigs – Agatha Christie
  • Diary Of A Provincial Lady – EM Delafield
  • Jane and Prudence – Barbara Pym
  • Mistletoe Magic In The Highlands – Bella Osborne
  • Wolf Hall – Hilary Mantel
  • The Kings Mother – Annie Garthwaite

Book of the Year: The List of Suspicious Things – Jennie Godfrey

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Kate at Rutherford Reads
  • The Search Party – Hannah Richell
  • Knock Knock – Michelle Tehan
  • Ice Town – Will Dean
  • Leaving – Roxana Robinson
  • Home Again For Christmas – Emily Stone
  • The Guests – Nikki Smith
  • The Negotiator – Brooke Robinson
  • A Good Place to Hide a Body – Laura Marshall
  • Talking at Night – Claire Daverley
  • Frank and Red – Matt Coyne
  • The Summer Party – Kate Gray
  • The Wrong Hands – Mark Billingham
  • The Chamber – Will Dean
  • The Comeback – Ella Berman
  • Darling Girls – Sally Hepworth
  • Seven Days – Robert Rutherford
  • Five Bad Deeds – Caz Frear
  • Finding Sophie – Imran Mahmood
  • The School Run – Ali Lowe
  • In the Blink of an Eye – Jo Callaghan
  • The Memory of Us – Dani Atkins
  • The Christmas Appeal – Janice Hallett
  • The Perfect Guests – Ruth Irons
  • Redemption – Jack Jordan

Book of the Year: Frank and Red – Matt Coyne

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Elizabeth at Lib C Reads
  • Frank & Red – Matt Coyne
  • The List of Suspicious Things – Jennie Godfrey
  • All The Colours of the Dark – Chris Whitaker
  • Leaving – Roxana Robinson
  • The Silence In Between – Josie Ferguson
  • The Wedding People – Alison Espach
  • The Glassmaker – Tracy Chevalier
  • Circus of Mirrors – Julie Owen Moylan
  • The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne – Freya North
  • This Motherless Land – Nikki May
  • The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby – Ellery Lloyd
  • True Love – Paddy Crewe
  • The Women – Kristin Hannah
  • Talking at Night – Claire Daverley
  • How to Age Disgracefully – Claire Pooley
  • Sandwich – Catherine Newman
  • Leave No Trace – Jo Callaghan
  • The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers – Samuel Burr
  • Prima Facie – Suzie Miller
  • The God of the Woods – Liz Moore
  • First Lie Wins – Ashley Elston
  • You Are Here – David Nicholls
  • Adelaide – Genevieve Wheeler
  • The Spy Coast – Tess Gerritsen

Book of the Year: Frank and Red – Matt Coyne

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Hayley at Lotus Readers
  • The Divorce – Moa Herngren
  • The Instrumentalist – Harriet Constable 
  • The Midnight Hour – Eve Chase 
  • One of the Good Guys – Araminta Hall 
  • The Women – Kristin Hannah
  • Profile K – Helen Fields 
  • Toxic – Helga Flatland 
  • The Silence In Between – Josie Ferguson
  • The Circus of Mirrors – Julie Owen Moylan 
  • This Motherless Land – Nikki May 
  • Living Is A Problem – Doug Johnstone 
  • The Black Loch – Peter May
  • Ice Town – Will Dean
  • The Trouble With Mrs Montgomery Hurst – Kate Lumsden
  • Dark As Night – Lilja Sigurdottir 
  • The Glassmaker – Tracey Chevalier 
  • By Any Other Name – Jodi Picoult 
  • Night Watching – Tracy Sierra
  • The Salt Flats – Rachel Atalla
  • Home Truths – Charity Norman

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Ellie at Elspells
  • The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley 
  • In Memoriam by Alice Winn
  • The Burial Plot by Elizabeth Micheal
  • Tiananmen Square by Lai Wen
  • Ghost Mountain by Ronan Hession
  • Birding by Rose Ruane
  • The Moon Represents My Heart by Pim Wangtechawat
  • The Last Princess by Ellen Alpsten 
  • Nesting by Roisin O’ Donnell
  • Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey 
  • May All Your Skies Be Blue by Fíona Scarlett 
  • Green Dot by Madeleine Gray

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Karen at Book Blogging Bureau
  • The List of Suspicious Things – Jennie Godfrey 
  • Prima Facie – Suzie Miller 
  • The Midnight Feast -Lucy Foley 
  • Frank and Red – Matt Coyne 
  • The Fellowship of the Puzzlemakers – Samuel Burr 
  • A Lesson in Cruelty – Harriet Tyce 
  • The Curse of Penryn Hall – Jess Armstrong
  • The Knowing -Emma Hinds 
  • The Guests -Agnes Ravatn 
  • The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year –   Ally Carter 

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Becca at Becca Kate Blogs
  • Murder on Lake Garda – Tom Hindle
  • The Mystery Guest – Nita Prose
  • Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead – Jenny Hollander 
  • The Story Collector – Iris Costello
  • The Last Party – Clare Mackintosh
  • Funny Story – Emily Henry
  • The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers – Samuel Burr
  • Redemption – Jack Jordan
  • The Midnight Feast – Lucy Foley
  • For Such a Time as This – Shani Akilah
  • Probably Nothing – Lauren Bravo
  • One of the Good Guys – Araminta Hall
  • Circus of Mirrors – Julie Owen Moylan
  • Here One Moment – Liane Moriarty

Book of the Year: Funny Story – Emily Henry

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Ceri at Ceri’s Lil’ Blog
  • Love Betty – Laura Kemp
  • The Lamplighters – Emma Stonex
  • Ten Years – Pernille Hughes
  • Contacts – Mark Watson
  • Where the Crawdads Sing – Delia Owens
  • The Mystery Guest – Nita Prose
  • The Lucky Escape by Laura Jane Williams 
  • The Love Hypothesis Ali Hazelwood
  • The Phone Box at the Edge of the World – Laura Imai Messina
  • A Train to Moscow – Elena Gorokhova
  • Yours Truly – Abby Jiminez
  • The Honeymoon – Kate Gray
  • The Party Season – S J I Holliday
  • The Hiding Place – Simon Lelic
  • Home Stretch – Graham Norton 
  • The Housewarming – S E Lynes 
  • Her Lonely Bones – Wendy Dranfield
  • Don’t You Want Me Baby? -Rachel Dove
  • The Sentence – Christina Dalcher
  • A Recipe for Christmas – Jo Thomas

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Zoe at Crazed Redhead Blog
  • Cover the Bones by Chris Hammer
  • Miss Austen Investigates – Jessica Bull
  • Here in the Dark –  Alexis Solokis 
  • Helle & Death – Oskar Jensen
  • The Pumpkin Spice Cafe – Laurie Gilmore
  • The Fury – Alex Michaelides
  • The Knowing – Emma Hinds
  • The Poisons We Drink – Bethany Baptiste
  • Days at the Morisaki Bookshop – Satoshi Yagisawa
  • Marigold Mind Laudnry – Jungeun Yun
  • None of This Is True – Lisa Jewell
  • Bright Young Women – Jessica Knoll
  • Critical Incidents – Luci Whitehouse
  • ASAP – Axie Oh
  • Every Smile You Fake – Dorothy Koomson
  • The Summer of Broken Rules – K. L. Walther
  • Beating Heart – Laura Pavlov
  • Things We Never Got Over – Lucy Score
  • Night Road – Kristin Hannah
  • Funny Feelings – Tarah DeWitt
  • The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore – Laruie Gilmore
  • The Christmas Tree Farm – Laurie Gilmore
  • Silent Evidence – Clea Koff
  • So Let Them Burn –  Kamilah Cole

Book of the Year: Marigold Mind Laudnry – Jungeun Yun

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So what were our favourites?

In alphabetical order, our top five books this year were:

  • Circus of Mirrors by Julie Owen Moylan
  • Frank and Red by Matt Coyne
  • The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr
  • The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey
  • The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne by Freya North

And our overall favourite was…

Frank and Red! Which was our Feburary Book Club pick.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles. And thank you for all your support in 2024 xxx

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: Gone with the Penguins by Hazel Prior

Published November 7th, 2024 by Bantam Publishing
Literary Fiction, Humorous Fiction, Pensioners in the Pages

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this charming and uplifting read. Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part and Bantam Publishing for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

From the No.1 bestselling author of Away with the Penguins comes the heart-warming and charming final chapter of Veronica McCreedy’s story.

Readers have fallen in love with Gone with the Penguins

‘Like a warm hug I didn’t know I needed’
‘A truly life affirming, beautiful read . . . I loved it!’
‘A charming, wonderful romp of a book, chock full of quirky plot and characters’

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“Emperor penguins defy the odds, and I shall too.”

Still fiery and feisty at eighty-seven, Veronica McCreedy, the very first Penguin Ambassador, is determined to prove that nothing is impossible when you put your mind to it.

Eileen, Veronica’s ever-patient assistant, is content taking care of other people. But when a new adventure calls, it makes her question everything…

Ten-year-old, penguin-obsessed Daisy can’t wait to be reunited with Mrs McCreedy in her huge house by the sea for the school holidays.

When they discover that the local Sea Life Centre is under threat, the unlikely trio are determined to save it and the penguins that live there.

Inspired by the penguins and fuelled by Darjeeling tea and finger sandwiches, they embark on an epic fundraising walk. But soon, their mission becomes so much more and it might just lead each of them to a new beginning…

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MY REVIEW:

“Emperor penguins defy the odds, and I shall too.”

My favourite curmudgeonly, feisty and determined octogenarian is back for her final outing in the conclusion to the Penguins Trilogy. 

Veronica McCreedy is about to be named the first ever Penguin Ambassador in recognition for all she’s done to raise awareness and funds for the penguins. Ten-year-old Daisy is obsessed with penguins and can’t wait to spend a week of her summer holidays with Mrs. McCreedy at her house by the sea. During Daisy’s visit, Veronica and her housekeeper, Eileen, take Daisy to the local Sea Life Centre to visit the penguins. But they are devastated to learn that the centre and all its animals are under threat and vow to save the penguins and their home. Taking inspiration from their beloved flippered friends, they decide to walk one hundred miles in a month to raise the funds. As their planning starts, they realise that Veronica is due to be in the Galapagos, Falklands and Antarctica during their walk. Daisy begs to join her, and soon the unlikely trio find themselves embarking on a fundraising adventure of a lifetime where they will walk with the penguins while trying to stop the centre from closure. 

Warm, witty and utterly delightful, this was a balm for the soul and a perfect conclusion to the most uplifting trilogy I’ve read. I loved being back with Veronica and the penguins. It is great that despite her adventures, she never changes. Remaining just as intrepid, bold and independent, still taking her daily constitutionals, and still drinking her Darjeeling tea. She is a great reminder that is never too late to find your passion or have a new adventure. This book gives us an opportunity to finally get to know her devoted housekeeper, Eileen. I loved reading more of this character and watching how she and her friendship with Veronica grew over. It was also fun to see the return of the charming, ebullient and compelling Daisy. They may be an unlikely trio, but I loved how they supported and encouraged each other in so many ways. 

While this is a heartwarming and lighthearted story full of lots of cute penguins and fun wildlife trivia, it is also a story about found family, self-discovery and determination. And once again the story explores issues such as climate change, plastics, and our personal responsibilities to change our ways to help save the earth and the wildlife that inhabit it. But it is never preachy, with Ms. Prior striking that perfect balance between education and entertainment. 

Charming, uplifting and addictive, this is the perfect cosy read for the colder days. So snuggle up under a blanket with a warm drink and read this one now. 

Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hazel Prior lives on Exmoor with her husband and a huge ginger cat. As well as writing, she works as a freelance harpist. Ellie and the Harp-Maker was her first novel.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the blog tour.

Categories
Audio Books Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2024

BOOK REVIEW: Moonstone by Laura Purcell

Published May 23rd, 2024 by Magpie
Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, Romantic Fantasy, Romance Novel, Regency Romance, Paranormal Fantasy, Lesbian Literature

Welcome to my thoughts on this atmospheric gothic thriller. Thank you to Magpie for the gifted proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A sparkling gothic romance from award-winning bestseller Laura Purcell

‘Brilliant and beautiful, Moonstone is the gothic werewolf love story we’ve all been waiting for. Easily one of my favourite books of the year!’ JJA Harwood, author of The Thorns Remain

Don’t misbehave. Beware the moon. And never go out after dark …

Following a scandal at the Vauxhall pleasure gardens, Camille is sent to the woods to live with her reclusive godmother and her strange daughter, Lucy. Cast out from polite society, she must learn to live by her godmother’s strict rules.

Camille has never met anyone quite like Lucy before, and as they grow closer and cross forbidden boundaries, strange things begin to happen. Mysterious deaths, claw marks raking the doors, and the nights are pierced by the howls of a creature that sounds almost … otherworldly.

Should Camille be more afraid of what’s hiding in the woods – or her own heart?

From the award-winning, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Silent Companions, Moonstone is a haunting gothic romance with real bite.

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MY REVIEW:

Following a scandalous night at the Vauxhall pleasure gardens, Camille’s family send her to stay with Rowena, her reclusive godmother, and her strange daughter, Lucy, until the controversy dies down. It is a huge adjustment for Camille, with strict and bizarre rules she must adhere to. And she has never met anyone like Lucy, finding herself at first repelled but then fascinated by her and the two grow closer, beginning to cross forbidden boundaries. But the closer they get, the stranger things become; howls pierce the nighttime air, claw marks appear on the doors, and there are deaths that can’t be explained. What is behind it all? And should Camille be afraid of what lives in the woods, or someone in the house that was supposed to be her sanctuary?

Gothic fiction is one of my favourite genres and Laura Purcell is one of the best in the genre, so I was excited to pick up her latest book, Moonstone. I mean, just look at that cover! I was delighted to find that what was on the pages was as hauntingly atmospheric as its cover; a sapphic gothic fairytale that blends werewolf lore with a journey of self-discovery and first love. Magnificently written and expertly plotted, this is a narrative that gleams with malice, oozes mystery, blooms with the joy of new romance. Purcell also explores the strict rules that governed women at the time through a quartet of strong, feisty and unusual women who I loved reading. I was in her thrall and flew through this in under a day.

Atmospheric, spellbinding and eerie, I highly recommend this book.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Laura Purcell is a former bookseller living in Colchester, Essex with her husband and pet guinea pigs.

She began her career with two historical novels about the Hanoverian monarchs, Queen of Bedlam and Mistress of the Court before her break-out Gothic ghost story The Silent Companions.

The Silent Companions won the WHSmith Thumping Good Read Award in 2018 and was shortlisted for the Goldsboro Glass Bell. It was selected for both the Radio 2 Book Club and Zoe Ball’s ITV Book Club.

Her other Gothic titles include The Corset, Bone China, The Shape of Darkness (winner of Historical Crime Book of the Year at the Fingerprint Awards 2022) and The Whispering Muse (winner of The Dracula Society’s Children of the Night Award 2023) .

Laura’s short stories have been published in a number of collections including the Sunday Times best-selling The Haunting Season and The Winter Spirits. She worked as lead writer on Roanoke Falls, a Realm horror podcast executive produced by John Carpenter and Sandy King Carpenter. It won a silver Signal Award for Best Scripted Fiction.

Laura’s YA debut Moonstone was published in May 2024 by HarperCollins’ Magpie imprint.

Please note that in the USA Laura is published by Penguin Books, where The Corset is titled The Poison Thread and Bone China is called The House of Whispers.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2024

BOOK REVIEW: The Bad Seeds (Sweetpea, 5) by C. J. Skuse

Published October 24th, 2024 by HQ
Thriller, Mystery, Dark Comedy, Humorous Fiction, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Crime Fiction, Crime Series

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘This isn’t a book for the squeamish or the faint-hearted … think Bridget Jones meets American Psycho’ Red

🪓

Sweetpea is coming home at last…

Newly married, with a loving family surrounding her, everything’s coming up roses for ex-serial killer Rhiannon Lewis, right?

Wrong.

Her husband has just been shot, and the daughter she left behind in the UK is desperately ill. She’s got no choice but to flee the States and return home, back to her roots, where she’s in danger of being recognised and arrested at any moment.

Only nothing is quite as it seems…

With a series of bad choices in front of her, and the authorities right behind, Rhiannon’s in a hell of a hole and she needs to dig herself out of it pronto. But help can come from the most unlikely places. And even more unlikely people…

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MY REVIEW:

“Even though I’m a bad seed, I’m trying to grow.”

Rhiannon is back. And it is her final adventure, making this book bittersweet for me as I am not at all ready to say goodbye to my favourite anti-hero. And would I like the ending? I was apprehensive. But I also knew I could rely on the Queen of Sassy Noir to send our girl out the right way. And that’s exactly what she does, knocking it out of the park once again with a magnificent finale to the Sweetpea series. 

When the book opens Rhiannon is newly married but instead of enjoying her honeymoon she’s by her husband’s side in the hospital as she waits to see if he’ll recover from a gunshot wound. But she can’t stay there for long as her daughter is seriously ill and she has to fly back to the UK to see her. But can she make it back without being recognised and arrested? 

What a book! Darkly funny, tense and twisty, I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish, devouring this one whole as I waited to learn how things end for Rhiannon. As an official bad seed, I am team #KeepHerBuried but there are many who want to unmask Rhiannon and see her jailed for her crimes and they are hot on her heels in this instalment, raising the tension as she tries to get back to her daughter. I was surprised how emotional this book was at times and it wasn’t only laughter that had tears in my eyes this time around. But something I love about this series is how you can rely on some things to never change. Every book is filled with inappropriate, ink-black humour, pop culture references, and bloody murder. And while we have seen a softer, more emotional side to Rhiannon as the series went on, she is still that wonderful psycho serial killer who won’t let anyone stand in her way. She has just learned some life lessons and now has more to lose. 

Deliciously dark, scathing, hilarious and completely outrageous, I can’t recommend this book and the whole series highly enough. And that final line! Sheer perfection. Take a bow, Ms. Skuse. I couldn’t have asked for a better ending. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to get 60 days of listening for free with my affiliate link*

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

C.J. SKUSE is the author of the Young Adult novels PRETTY BAD THINGS, ROCKOHOLIC, DEAD ROMANTIC, MONSTER and THE DEVIANTS and the adult crime thrillers THE ALIBI GIRL and the SWEETPEA series of books. C.J. was born in 1980 in Weston-super-Mare, England and has First Class degrees in Creative Studies in English and Writing for Children and, aside from writing novels, works as a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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book reviews Squadpod Squadpod Featured Books Squadpod Reviews

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: The DallerGut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee

Published August 1st, 2024 by Wildfire
Fantasy Fiction, Magical Realism, Humorous Fantasy, Translated Fiction

Welcome to my thoughts on this uplifting and unforgettable debut. Thank you to Ollie at Wildfire for sending me a copy of the proof in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

*THE INSTANT SATURDAY TIMES #2 BESTSELLER*

‘Readers can’t get enough of this enchanting story’ The Sun

‘Filled to the brim with joy’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘A delightful journey into a fantasy realm where dreams make everything better’ Daily Mail

|| THE #1 KOREAN BESTSELLER WITH OVER A MILLION COPIES SOLD ||

In a mysterious town hidden in our collective subconscious there’s a department store that sells dreams. Day and night, visitors both human and animal shuffle in to purchase their latest adventure. Each floor specializes in a specific type of dream: childhood memories, food dreams, ice skating, dreams of stardom. Flying dreams are almost always sold out. Some seek dreams of loved ones who have died.

For Penny, an enthusiastic new hire, working at the store is the opportunity of a lifetime. As she uncovers the workings of this whimsical world, she bonds with a cast of unforgettable characters, including DallerGut, the flamboyant and wise owner, Babynap Rockabye, a famous dream designer, Maxim, a nightmare producer, and the many customers who dream to heal, dream to grow, and dream to flourish.

A captivating story that will leave a lingering magical feeling in readers’ minds, this is the first book in a bestselling duology for anyone exhausted from the reality of their daily life.

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MY REVIEW:

“‘I believe there are two ways to love your life, Penny. The first is to work hard to change your life when you feel unsatisfied.’
‘That seems about right.’ Penny nods.
‘The second option may look easier, but its actually more difficult. And even if you do change your life through the first option, you must ultimately get through the second to be at complete peace.’
‘And what is that?’
To accept your life as it is and be grateful. It’s easier said than done. But if you can do it, I believe this will help you realise happiness has just been around the corner.’”

Breathtaking, magical and uplifting, DallerGut Dream Department Store is a mesmerising tale that I knew would be one of my favourites of the year within its first few pages. Set in a mysterious town that is hidden in our collective subconscious and only visited when we sleep, the story follows Penny, a young dream enthusiast who is given the opportunity of a lifetime when she’s hired at the store. As Penny learns the ropes she acts as our guide to this enchanting world and its unforgettable characters. 

Miye Lee has created a word that leaps from the pages, her evocative imagery and masterful storytelling merging to create a world that is dreamlike but also vividly real. A world where you don’t question the giant furry creatures who hand out PJs to naked sleepers, leprechauns who run the shoe store next door, and where dreams are paid for in emotions rather than cash. I love the idea of there being a whole industry that revolves around dreams and that there was even a dreammaker who created dreams for our furry friends. This book was exactly what I needed after an October filled with dark and emotional reads. It made my spirit soar and comforted me like a warm hug; exactly what I needed on these dreary autumn days. 

The book is filled with quirky characters who were a joy to read and is told from multiple points of view. This allows us to not only get to know Penny and the staff, but also some of their customers, too. I enjoyed the customer’s perspectives and this is where Ms. Lee explored a range of more serious topics such as love, self-confidence, grief and trauma. And by following the customers we see what leads them to purchase the dream, what happens in the dream, and the impact it has on them afterwards.  But while I enjoyed this aspect of the story, I don’t mind admitting it was Penny and the rest of the characters who live and work in this mysterious town who stole my heart. They soon felt like old friends and I was bereft when I arrived at the end of the book and had to say goodbye to them. But then I remembered I could return to them in the sequel and all was right again. 

Whimsical, dreamy, original and affecting, DallerGut Dream Department Store is a spectacular debut. Highly recommended. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Miye Lee  was born in Busan in 1990. After graduating from the Busan National University School of Materials Science and Engineering, she worked as a semiconductor engineer at Samsung Electronics. Her debut novel Dallergut Dream Department Store published entirely funded through a crowdfunding service in Korea in 2020 and has since drawn many enthusiastic responses and favourable reviews.

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MEET THE TRANSLATOR:

Sandy Joosun Lee is a Korean-to-English translator based in Seoul. She studied Literature/Writing in University of California, San Diego. Her translations include Won-pyung Sohn’s Almond (HarperVia, 2020) and Miye Lee’s DallerGut Dream Department Store duology (Wildfire, 2023). She also works in animation, translating and developing animated content, which includes The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf (2021) and Star Wars: Visions (2023). She is a member of the translator collective Smoking Tigers.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
Blog Tours Book Features book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2023

BLOGATHON: Conviction by Jack Jordan

Published June 22nd, 2023 by Simon & Schuster UK
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Crime Fiction, Political Thriller, Police Thriller, Legal Thriller, Legal Story

Today I’m re-sharing my review for Conviction. Thanks to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Tours for the invitation to take part and Simon & Schuster UK for sending me a proof copy in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

TO STEAL A MAN’S FREEDOM ALL IT TAKES IS . . . CONVICTION

Wade Darling stands accused of killing his wife and teenage children as they slept before burning the family home to the ground. 
 
When the case lands on barrister Neve Harper’s desk, she knows it could be the career making case she’s been waiting for. But only if she can prove Wade’s innocence. 

A matter of days before the case, as Neve is travelling home for the night, she is approached by a man. He tells her she must lose this case or the secret about her own husband’s disappearance will be revealed.
 
Failing that, he will kill everyone she cares about until she follows orders.
 
Neve must make a choice – betray every principle she has ever had by putting a potentially innocent man in prison, or risk putting those she loves in mortal danger.

For fans of Steve Cavanagh, Linwood Barclay and Gillian McAllister, introducing the latest novel from the master of the moral dilemma, Jack Jordan.

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MY REVIEW:

“There is right, and there is wrong; black and white. There is no grey area to use to one’s own advantage, or the justice system would collapse like a house of cards. Pull one rule away, and the whole thing topples.”

Promising Barrister Neve Harper is preparing to defend the case that could make her career. Wade Darling stands accused of killing his wife and children in cold blood as they slept before setting the family home ablaze. He says he’s innocent, but the evidence all seems to point towards him. But Neve’s excitement at the challenge ends when one night she is approached by a man who knows her darkest secret. He threatens to expose it if Wade isn’t found guilty and says he’ll hurt those she loves to ensure she complies. Will Neve betray her morals and put a potentially innocent man behind bars in order to save herself and those she loves?

Unbearably tense, twisty and addictive, this was another outstanding thriller from the golden pen of Jack Jordan. It’s no secret that I’m a HUGE fan and Jordan just keeps getting better as he establishes himself as the King of the moral dilemma thriller. Fast paced, perfectly plotted and exquisitely written, Jordan is a master of his craft, sprinkling breadcrumbs into the intricately layered narrative and constructing the story to ensure all of the twisty threads collide with perfect timing all while keeping you on the edge of your seat with an atmosphere thick with the a ticking time bomb of ominous dread. And then there’s that ending. How could you end it there?! I needed more!

One of the things I love most about Jordan’s books is his characters, who are always morally complex, richly drawn, compelling, and memorable. And Neve Harper is no exception. I liked her immediately, something that didn’t change even when her awful secret was revealed thanks to Jordan’s expertise at writing anti-heroes that we love to root for. He does this by weaving their anguish and dilemmas into the narrative; making you confront all the shades of grey in each situation, and highlighting how anyone can find themselves in a situation where they do things they never imagined possible. He also gives even the darkest of his characters some heart, making you feel some empathy for the villains when their motivations are laid bare along with their pain. It takes real talent to do this and Jordan achieves it like the seasoned pro he is, making their anguish so palpable that you can’t escape it. 

A heart-pounding and nerve-shredding thriller that sizzles with suspense, Conviction is a must-read for any self-respecting thriller lover. Just don’t make any other plans after you start reading, because I guarantee you’ll be cancelling them. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the blogathon.

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2024

BOOK REVIEW: The Burial Plot by Elizabeth Macneal

Published June 6th, 2024 by Picador
Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Historical Romance

Welcome to my review of this outstanding gothic thriller. Thanks to Picador for sending me a proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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BOOK DESCRIPTION:

The Burial Plot is a spellbinding historical Gothic thriller about murder and manipulation, set in Victorian London. From Elizabeth Macneal, the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Doll Factory.

London, 1839. With the cemeteries full and money to be made in death, tricksters Crawford and Bonnie survive on wicked schemes and ill-gotten coin. But one blistering evening, their fortunes flip. A man lies in a pool of blood at Bonnie’s feet and now she needs to disappear.

Crawford secures her a position as lady’s maid in a grand house on the Thames. As Bonnie comes to understand the family – the eccentric Mr Moncrieff, obsessively drawing mausoleums for his dead wife, and their peculiar daughter Cissie, scribbling imaginary love letters to herself – she begins to question what secrets are lying behind the house’s paper-thin walls and whether her own presence here was planned from the beginning.

Because Crawford is watching, and perhaps he is plotting his greatest trick yet . . .

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MY REVIEW:

As the nights darken I find myself drawn to darker books, particularly those with a gothic or supernatural element, so it felt like the perfect time to start this book. And it was. Darkly atmospheric, hypnotic and alluring, The Burial Plot is a gorgeous gothic thriller perfect for this time of year. It consumed me and I devoured it whole, enrapt by the story of murder, manipulation, secrets and betrayal. This is Elizabeth Macneal’s best book yet; a haunting tour-de-force that you won’t be able to put down.

It transports us to London, 1839, where we meet Bonnie, a young woman surviving on schemes and tricks she carries out under the guidance of her boyfriend, Crawford. But one night their tricks go too far and a man lies dead in a pool of blood. Bonnie needs to disappear. And, luckily, Crawford knows the perfect place. So, Bonnie travels to Endellion, a grand house on the Thames, to begin working as a Lady’s Maid. Endellion is inhabited by Aubrey Moncrieff, a strange man who spends his days obsessively drawing mausoleums for his dead wife, and his daughter, Cissie, who lives in a daydream scribbling imaginary love notes to herself. The late Mrs. Moncrieff died in mysterious circumstances, and it is soon clear that there are secrets hidden at Endellion. Secrets that some will kill to protect.…

It’s no secret that I’ve been a huge fan of Elizabeth Macneal ever since her debut and will buy anything she writes. Masterfully written, cleverly choreographed and intricately woven, I was bewitched from the start. Macneal’s meticulous research about the fascinating historical period and subject is expertly woven into the mystery, allowing her reader to lose themselves completely in the story. Dark, ominous, oppressive and foreboding vibes radiate from the pages and there’s a twisted game of cat and mouse being played between Bonnie and Crawford. Then there’s the overwhelming sense of claustrophobia that we feel as Bonnie wrestles with her conscience. She’s trapped. Imprisoned by not only her crime but by Crawford and the lies she’s already told. 

The book is filled with very real, vivid characters. The protagonist, Bonnie, is a complicated and flawed heroine, an anti-hero who wades in murky moral territory with all of her lies, schemes and plots. But despite this she’s very compelling, likeable and easy to root for. You want her to win despite all she does wrong and you get the sense that many of her erroneous deeds stem from her toxic and controlling relationship with Crawford. I really hated Crawford. He’s a mass of red flags from the beginning but has a charm to him that allows you to understand Bonnie’s attraction to him. And as we hear about Bonnie’s past, we understand she thinks he saved her when she needed it, never realising he was trapping her in a cycle of abuse from the start. The background characters are equally as richly drawn and compelling, with young Cissie stealing my heart. My heart broke for this young girl and all she’d gone through and I loved the bond that grew between her and Bonnie. 

Taut, twisty, unnerving and utterly breathtaking, The Burial Plot is a gothic masterpiece that demands to be read. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. You can get 60 days listening free with this link*

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Elizabeth Macneal was born in Scotland and now lives in East London. She is a writer and potter and works from a small studio at the bottom of her garden. The Doll Factory, Elizabeth’s debut novel, was a Sunday Times bestseller, has been translated into twenty-nine languages and has been optioned for a major television series. It won the Caledonia Novel Award in 2018, and was a No. 2 Sunday Times bestseller. In 2019, Elizabeth was chosen as one of The Observers ‘hottest-tipped debut novelists’. Her second novel, Circus of Wonders, was an immediate Sunday Times bestseller, hitting No. 4 after only a partial week of sales.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2024 Squadpod Book Club Squadpod Reviews

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: Every Move You Make by C. L. Taylor

Published September 12th, 2024 by Avon Books
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Crime Fiction

Welcome to my bookish thoughts on Every Move You Make. Thanks to Avon Books for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘I absolutely loved it!’ Lisa Jewell

‘A compulsive page-turner you won’t be able to put down.’ Clare Mackintosh

‘Wow this was exceptional! Clever, original and filled with tension, this is a story I won’t ever forget. C.L. Taylor’s best yet.’ Claire Douglas

‘Clever, tense and satisfying.’ Andrea Mara

‘Spine-chilling at every turn! One of the best thrillers of the year.’ Jeffery Deaver

‘A tense, twisty thrill-ride of stalking, obsession and revenge.’ TM Logan

‘I absolutely love C.L. Taylor’s writing.’ Liz Nugent

‘I absolutely loved this book and finished it in one sitting…In true C.L. Taylor style, it’s delightfully twisty.’ Katy Brent

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Keep your friends close and your enemies closer…

Alexandra, Lucy, Bridget, River and Natalie. Five friends who wish they’d never met. Because the one thing they have in common is the worst thing in their lives: they are all being stalked.

When one of their group is murdered, days after their stalker is released from prison, time stands still for them all. They know their lives could end just as brutally at any moment – all it takes is for the people they fear the most to catch up with them.

When the group receive a threat that one of them will die in ten days’ time, the terror that stalks their daily lives becomes all-consuming. But they know they don’t want to be victims anymore – it’s time to turn the tables and finally get their revenge.

Because the only way to stop a stalker is to become one yourself…

The multimillion bestseller returns with her most propulsive and addictive book yet. A chilling and terrifyingly real thriller that will keep you up all night – and looking over your shoulder for days to come…

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MY REVIEW:

Alexandra, Lucy, Bridget, River and Natalie are five friends that wish they had never met. Because they met at a support group for people who are being stalked. And when one of their group is murdered just days after their stalker is released from prison, the others are left remembering that it could be them at any moment. 

When I pick up a C. L. Taylor book I know I’m getting a well-written, fast-paced and absorbing thriller. And that is exactly what I got with her latest book, Every Move You Make, which is one of our SquadPod Featured Books this month. Enthralling, sinister and suspenseful, Taylor held me in her thrall from the opening pages. Taylor has talked about this being a very personal book for her as she was stalked by an ex a number of years ago, and you really get the sense of that personal experience of how it feels to be stalked merging with her storytelling talents to create the palpable sense of terror that consumes the characters and radiates from the pages and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Alexandra, Lucy, Bridget, River and Natalie are part of a group on WhatsApp that is brilliantly named FYST (f*** you stalker t***s). The story is told through each of their eyes through their communications on the app and traditional narrative. These characters are recognisable, relatable and easy to root for, immediately gaining our sympathy as we know they have been subjected to a harrowing experience. But as we learn more, it seems like one of the group may not be who they claim to be, adding to the tension and making everyone a suspect. I love an unreliable narrator, so I particularly enjoyed this aspect of the book and went through a number of theories before the jaw-dropping truth was finally revealed.

Atmospheric, harrowing and unexpected, this heart-pounding thriller is a must-read. And don’t miss the heart-rending author’s note at the end.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

C.L. Taylor is an award winning Sunday Times bestselling author of ten gripping psychological thrillers including THE GUILTY COUPLE, a Richard and Judy Book Club pick for summer 2023 and SLEEP, a Richard and Judy Book Club pick for autumn 2019.

C.L. Taylor’s books have sold over two million copies in the UK alone, hit number one on Amazon Kindle, Audible, Kobo, iBooks and Google Play, and have been translated into over 30 languages and optioned for TV.

Her books are not a series and can be read in any order:
2014 – THE ACCIDENT / Before I Wake (U.S. title)
2015 – THE LIE
2016 – THE MISSING
2017 – THE ESCAPE
2018 – THE FEAR
2019 – SLEEP
2020 – STRANGERS
2021 – HER LAST HOLIDAY
2022 – THE GUILTY COUPLE
2024 – EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE

She has also written two Young Adult thrillers: THE TREATMENT and THE ISLAND.

Her crime short story collection, TELL THEM NO LIES, is published as Cally Taylor. She also has a women’s fiction story collection, SECRETS AND RAIN, under the same name.*

C.L. Taylor lives in Bristol in the UK with her partner and son.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2024 Squadpod Squadpod Featured Books

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell

Published July 4th, 2024 by Century
Thriller, Mystery, Superhero Fiction

Welcome to my review for the addictive Breaking the Dark. Thanks to Century for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Breaking the Dark, the first book in the brand-new Marvel Crime series, introduces fans to a grittier, street-level side of the Marvel Universe, and will continue with original novels featuring fan-favorite characters like Luke Cage, written by S.A. Cosby, and Daredevil, written by Alex Segura.
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‘Never has a novelist captured me so consistently every single year for so long’ Gillian McAllister
‘Absolutely perfect’ Booklist
‘A fun, entertaining read that really packs a punch!’ Shari Lapena
‘An exciting, riveting, adrenaline-pumping story’ Liz Nugent
‘Immersive, page-turning, addictive, fresh and fun.’ Andrea Mara
‘Exhilarating, twisty and original. Agatha Christie meets Black Mirror!’ Claire Douglas
‘I was hooked from the start and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Original, clever and cinematic.’ Alice Feeney
‘Absolutely compulsive, complex and gripping. A classic mystery weaved seamlessly into the Marvel Universe. I loved it.’ Nadine Matheson
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Meet Jessica Jones: a private investigator and retired super hero based out of Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan, who goes from job to job as a hard living, rough talking, loner.

And then a wealthy Upper East Side woman pays her a visit. Amber Randall is concerned about her twin sixteen-year-olds, Lark and Fox, who have acted and looked very different since they returned from spending the summer with their British father in the UK. She tells Jessica that her children have unnaturally perfect skin for teenagers and have lost all the tics and habits that made them who they were. They are not Lark and Fox, she tells Jessica. Something has happened to them.

To find out more, Jessica travels to Essex to talk to their father and once there meets Belle who is living a curiously isolated existence in a run-down farmhouse with her guardian Debra. Jessica knows that Lark and Fox had spent the summer with Belle―but can this unworldly teenager really be responsible for Lark and Fox’s new personas?

Jessica soon discovers that, behind Belle and Debra, evil geniuses are playing a dangerous game with technology in order to make the world a “better place”, not caring who gets hurt, maimed or even killed in the process. Can Jessica stop them from wreaking destruction on a whole generation of young people?

Nothing is certain in Lisa Jewell’s gripping and most imaginative novel yet.

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MY REVIEW:

Hell’s Kitchen, New York. Jessica Jones is a retired superhero who now works as a private investigator. She’s hired by Upper East Side resident Amber Rangall who is concerned about her sixteen-year-old twins, Lark and Fox. She says they spent the summer with their father and haven’t been themselves since they returned. That they have unnaturally perfect skin, never pick up their phones, and seem to have lost all the characteristics that made them who they were. Amber is convinced these are not her children and begs Amber to look into what happened to them. 

Lisa Jewell can write anything and it will be brilliant. I’m a huge fan of her books but wasn’t sure I’d enjoy this one as I’ve never been interested in reading anything Marvel related. But when the SquadPod were offered the chance to feature it as one of our summer reads, I knew I had to give it a try. And I loved it! Breathtaking, intelligent, supercharged and twisty, this was a jaw-dropping thriller. The case Jessica is exploring sounded really far-fetched to me at first and I also had no idea how it would be connected to the second storyline that we see in flashbacks. But as things got more curious and strange I got more invested. As the case got increasingly weird and intriguing I liked it even more and was on the edge of my seat as Jewell intricately wove the two storylines together. 

Jessica is a great character. Flawed, fractured, sassy and gutsy, her spiky personality took a little getting used to but she was a great protagonist. I liked that she was a hot mess and didn’t have things figured out. Honestly, I kept forgetting she was a former superhero as Jewell really plays down her powers and chooses to instead explore Jones’ nuances and complexities, making her so very human and relatable. One aspect I really enjoyed was her banter with Malcolm, the teenage fan-boy who she hires as an assistant. I also liked her situationship with Luke and the vulnerable side of her that explored.

Action-packed, intriguing and addictive, this thriller packs a punch. Miss Jewell has converted me to a Marvel thriller reader so I’m really hoping that she will write more of these books. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

LISA JEWELL was born in London in 1968.

Her first novel, Ralph’s Party, was the best- selling debut novel of 1999. Since then she has written another twenty novels, most recently a number of dark psychological thrillers, including The Girls, Then She Was Gone, The Family Upstairs, The Family Remains and The Night She Disappeared, all of which were Richard & Judy Book Club picks.

Lisa is a New York Times and Sunday Times number one bestselling author who has been published worldwide in over thirty languages. She lives in north London with her husband and two daughters.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: Home For Christmas by Heidi Swain

Published October 10th, 2024 by Simon & Schuster UK
Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Holiday Fiction, Festive Fiction

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this funny festive read. Thank you to SJV at Books and the City for the invitation to take part and for sending me a proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Bella is living her best life in Wynbridge, with her beloved Spaniel, Tink. She’s found a way to keep the house she inherited from her grandparents while expanding her dream business – Away With the Fairies – and she’s ecstatic that Christmas is on the horizon!
 
In fact, everything is perfect until family friend, Catherine Connelly asks Bella if she’d be willing to rent part of the house to freelance author, Jude who is researching the history of the Connelly Clan and Wynthorpe Hall ahead of turning his findings into a book. The plan had been for Jude to stay at the hall, but he can’t cope with the chaos and Bella reluctantly agrees to open her door to him.
 
Initially, the pair clash but then friendlier feelings begin to grow and Bella finds herself wondering if Jude could become more than just another guest before it’s time for him to leave. That is, until he announces he has no time for Christmas!
 
With her favourite time of the year suddenly in jeopardy, will Bella ever feel like she’s home for Christmas?

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MY REVIEW:

Bella lives with her Spaniel, Tink, in her late grandparents home in Wynbridge. Her business, Away with the Fairies, is slowly expanding and life couldn’t be better. But then a family friend asks if she’d be willing to rent out part of her home to Jude, a freelance author who is researching and writing a book about  the Connelly Clan and Wynthorpe Hall. She reluctantly agrees and the pair clash immediately. But Bella soon realises she’s falling for her annoying house guest. Could they be more? Or will Jude’s dislike of Bella’s favourite season put an end to things before they’ve even begun.

Charming, festive, funny and uplifting, this book is like a warm hot chocolate with all the trimmings on a cold winter day. It’s been a while since I’ve read a Heidi Swain book and this reminded me why I love them so much. Well-written, compelling, cosy and laugh-out-loud funny, her books just put you in a good mood. But this one feels extra special as it isn’t just infused with romance, it is also sprinkled with festive charm and fairy dust that expertly work their magic. I loved the small-town charm of the story and how welcoming it felt. I’ve been all about the darker reads lately and didn’t know if I was in the mood for anything lighthearted and festive. But I’m a sucker for an enemies-to-lovers romance and this was the read I didn’t know I needed. 

Bella is a great protagonist and I felt an immediate connection to her. Her whimsical character was a joy to read and her love of fairies brought back my own childhood love of the Flower Fairies series. I understood why she was so fearful of giving into her feelings for Jude, especially as he’s only visiting, but I was rooting for this pair from the start.  Jude was a great love interest. He’s spiky and grumpy enough to understand Bella’s dislike of him at the start, but soon changes and has us rooting for them to give into their feelings as they were so obviously meant to be together. 

So if you’re looking for a romance that will leave you warm and fuzzy while also getting you in the festive mood, this is for you. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Heidi Swain is a Sunday Times Bestselling Author who writes commercial fiction for Simon and Schuster.

She has three series set in fictitious Wynbridge, Nightingale Square and Wynmouth and writes two titles a year – a summer and a Christmas book.

She also writes short stories and non-fiction for magazines and is represented by Amanda Preston.

Heidi always wanted to be a published author and her big writing break came in 2014 when she submitted The Cherry Tree Café to Books and The City (the digital first imprint of Simon and Schuster). The book was published a year later and she hasn’t stopped writing since.

Her books are available in paperback, E-book and audio and have been published in Italy, France and Germany as well as the UK.

She lives in the east of England, is a member of the RNA and the Society of Authors and has a TBR pile which is always out of control.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Amazon*
*These links are affiliate links

********

Thanks for reaidng, Bibliophiles xxxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the blog tour.