Gemma

This was such a lovely read in so many ways.

I adored the setting which was romantic and comforting. Having been to South Africa a few times and having stayed in Johannesburg, I recognised a few of the places and food that was mentioned so this brought back some nostalgic memories for me which added to my overall enjoyment of the novel.

The book was character driven which I loved; I truly got swept away with Rachel's character and was routing for her to ditch her boyfriend Will and find a man who would devote his time to her. I adored the addition of Mr Lemon and his backstory and loved reading about how this evolved throughout the novel.

Although I don't read many romance novels I found I was completely captivated by the premise of this book. The concept behind the letters was heartwarming and the fact that the love between all the characters, whether friendship, family or romantic grew slowly, over time, was invigorating to read.

Even though I found this novel uplifting and moving it also had a darker theme running through it; that of abuse, violation and rape. I think Leigh highlighted the story of survival in a sensitive and thoughtful way, showing the courage and bravery of the victim through her portrayal of Rachel.

A beautiful story with a stunning front cover which I read in one day. Many thanks to Taryn Leigh for providing me with an ARC in return for my honest review. Such an enjoyable, moving read.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It had two main mysteries to be solved; the disappearance of Becca, a woman in her twenties and the murder of Corrina, Robin's best friend. What I loved was the desperation and strength of will in the character Robin. Here she was a single mother of a teenager who had worked hard not only to forge a career in the MET but also in raising her daughter single-handedly. Then through her decision to follow her own beliefs about a case is dismissed for misconduct. Finding herself unemployed she has no other choice but to head back to her childhood home with her tail between her legs.

Robin is offered a job with a family friend Maggie who works as a private investigator, as they are interviewing the mother of the missing woman news that Corrina has been murdered is filtered to them. Robin is determined to find out what happened to her childhood friend and to clear Corrina's husband of the murder. Having worked in the Homicide department of the MET you can truly understand how frustrated Robin is at not being able to work alongside the Birmingham police in solving this murder and putting the real murderer behind bars. At every step Robin is shut down in her own investigation causing more fractures between those closest to her. Whitehouse gives you a main character who is flawed, at her absolute lowest point, constantly making the wrong decisions and yet I couldn't help but like and admire her stubbornness and drive.

This novel genuinely kept me guessing throughout and I had no idea how it was going to end. The plot was cleverly written, the characters very relatable and I loved how connections were made to tie everything together. For me this was definitely the page turn I was hoping for and it felt very realistic. I will absolutely be looking out for future novels by Lucie Whitehouse and the sequel to Critical Incidents.

An absolute beautiful book with an important message. I read this story to my class and they loved it. They had fun guessing which character was coming up next and there was so much laughter from the children when each character was revealed. We discussed our favourite characters from the book and identified the rhyming words, which added to the pace and enjoyment of the story. The illustrations are bold and bright adding to the richness of the text. There is so much detail in the pictures that the children love exploring these and discovering new things that they didn't spot the first time around. I know this will be a firm favourite in the classroom encouraging plenty of discussion and experimenting using different voices for each character.
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Gemma's Thoughts:
A modern day Romeo and Juliet, with feuding families and a long host of traditions and superstitions. The town of Coraloo was both whimsical and intriguing; it had an old fashioned feel about it that I loved. The colourful, quirky characters with their eccentric manners were both charming and humorous. I was captivated by the mystery surrounding Innis and Wilkin Wilkinson and couldn't wait to reach the chapters dedicated to these characters. I found their story fascinating and loved how it slowly weaved through the main story of Roy and Margarette.

A unique and charming book perfect for curling up on a lazy day, forgetting about the world around you and diving into the town of Coraloo.

Maria's Thoughts:
This tale is somewhat like Romeo and Juliet, two warring families in one town. The Blackwells and the Tofts can't see eye to eye about anything and each have their own turf, but somehow Margarette Toft and Roy Blackwell manage to fall in love and that's when their family troubles start.

The descriptive narrative makes this little town come to life from the Coraloo flea market with its array of brightly coloured stalls to the tiny police station that sees very little crime, thus giving Roy little to do. Roy finds a ‘cold case' that he decides to solve which only confuses the families even more.

This story meanders through the lives of the residents, all richly depicted by the author, and takes you to Roy and Margarette's wedding. There was much humour throughout the book especially around the expectations of the demanding Blackwells and the ancient wedding dress! I loved that Innis and Wilkin had a history that added a few surprises to the book and to the town of Coraloo.

Many thanks to Fern at Lion Hudson for inviting us on The Marriage of Innis Wilkinson blog tour.

Sarah Sutherland is a mother to a teenage daughter who is travelling the world, a daughter to her elderly father who is becoming more and more in need of support and is holding down two very different jobs: a manager at a local supermarket and running witch tours around the local area. She finds herself struggling to cope with all the demands made of her and is drawn to the mysteries surrounding Alie Gowdie, a woman who was accused and then killed of being a witch.

I loved the historic connection of witchcraft that the book explored and too got caught up in Sutherland's research into the truth. I also enjoyed reading her father's narrative and felt great sympathy towards him especially with regards to how frustrated he felt at times with his current situation. His story is very touching and I was fascinated by Charles Bonnet Syndrome, something I had never heard of before and am so glad Sandra Ireland included this particular condition in her novel to help raise awareness and understanding of this condition.

There are several story lines that weave through this novel and I was fascinated to see how they all came together at the end. The book is left open-ended and I am convinced there is an unfinished story surrounding her daughter; for me something doesn't feel right about her current situation. I am intrigued to see where Sandra Ireland will take the next book in the Sutherland series and hope we hear much more from her father and perhaps Hannah's narrative too. Either way I will definitely be purchasing book two as I feel very much invested in the characters and enjoyed Ireland's style of writing.

Many thanks to Polygon books and Love Book Tours Group for my gifted copy of Sight Unseen and the invite to the blog tour.

The opening of the story takes you straight into the action: Hattie being pulled through her own fridge by an elephant and taken to a magical far-away land, Somewhere-Nowhere. This book is action-packed with lots of colourful, interesting characters that will keep children entertained and engrossed. Hattie's adventure in the world of Somewhere-Nowhere had an Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz feel about it as she meets a host of strange characters in a seemingly crazy world ruled by Lord Mortimer. As Hattie tries to find her way home she makes special friendships along the way and realises that she must put the hundredth children first by attempting to rescue them rather than escaping herself. Hattie, who is normally quite reserved discovers a new found confidence in herself along with other qualities such as determination, perseverance and bravery, which surprises but motivates her further.

This book was a pleasure to read and I can really visualise children becoming absorbed in the magical world of Somewhere-Nowhere. The descriptions and imagery were vivid, the chapters short and punchy with a good mixture of dialogue, characterisation, setting and action. I am looking forward to reading the next books in the series and finding out more about Hattie's adventures in the realm of Somewhere-Nowhere.

Wow what an action-packed thriller this was. The beginning starts with a bang, or should I say a dramatic plane crash which had my heart pumping. I loved how the novel alternated between the two decades and how the stories were completely different but both terrifying. The characters were dark, complex and mysterious which intrigued me; they are definitely not your stereotypical cast. There were plenty of twists and turns which kept me guessing the whole time and the ending!!! What a psychological thriller!

This book is not for the faint hearted as the content can be extremely gory but it was such a fascinating read, taking me back to my days of watching Lost. A corker of a dark, twisted tale which I loved and would highly recommend. I cannot wait for Jeremy Costello's next novel.
#HuntingAbigail is out tomorrow - 25th August. Many thanks to @jeremycostellobooks for the ARC, a truly thrilling read.

This was one of the most intriguing books I have read this year. Although I had read the blurb nothing prepared me for what lay inside. On first glance it seemed like a whimsical novel about childhood dreams and coming of age, to an extent it is this but oh so much more. There is a real dark and sinister side of this novel which at times can be frightening and saddening.

I loved Romilly and felt so connected to her. Although very much loved by her father she was the abandoned child, one that I wanted to reach out, hug and look after. At times throughout the novel I held my breath in anticipation as to what would happen next, whilst during other times I felt that Romilly's fate was changing for the better, that there was hope. As the story progresses it seems to get darker and lonelier for Romilly and I found it difficult to contain my anger of her situation and for the people around her. I was definitely emotionally invested in the novel which shows how powerful the writing style is; much praise to Crosby.

The warmth I felt towards the series of picture books that Romilly's father was writing and illustrating was profound. I really wanted the books to be real so I could reach out, physically touch them and see the illustrations and the hidden words for myself. The treasure hunt that was evoked from these books was touching but as the attention and fame increased Romilly's quality of life decreased making her become more and more isolated and a prisoner in her own home. I really enjoyed it when Romilly pieced together the clues of the treasure hunt and ultimately found the real treasure.

This touching but haunting debut novel will stay with me for a long time, it was fascinating, disturbing and very thought-provoking. Many thanks to Crosby and HQ Stories for gifting me a copy of The Illustrated Child.

Rosie Shadow, a six year old, is out of control according to her mother. She won't go to school, stays up until the wee hours and is violent towards her mother. But surely it can't be the child's fault it must be her upbringing? Right? Think again. Rosie has immense strength, both physical and mental, she has an insatiable appetite and likes to dig graves in the garden. Her strange behaviour and aggression towards her mother has meant Elly is a shadow of her former self, she is literally terrified of what her daughter will do next. This fascinating storyline makes no excuses for Rosie's behaviour and leaves you dreading what she is capable of doing next and to who. I had goosebumps reading the chapters dedicated to Rosie and my heart was beating rapidly in anticipation of what was to come. I felt so much sympathy for Elly and could see how trapped and torn she was.

Clare is grieving from the sudden death of her partner and trying to hold it all together. Working as a tourist guide she finds herself drawn to her boss Archie. However, things are not quite as they seem. This creepy, gut-wrenching novel is both disturbing and addictive. It was quite the page-turner. It shocked, disgusted me, drew me in with its broad mix of characters and terrified me all at the same time.

I was lucky enough to receive the audio version of Backstories which was such an enjoyable experience. The different voices for each story added an element of excitement and authenticity helping me ‘set the scene' and add extra clues to who the character was from the very beginning of each chapter. I loved the ‘guess who' element with each new story. Each of the characters are very well known people, some iconic heroes in history and others real monsters. This real mixture of personalities, the different eras in which they spanned and the diversity of nationalities was a great combination. You never really knew what you would find from one story to the next, which definitely kept me entertained and enthralled.

Simon Van der Velde's clever writing and obvious research makes this a quirky and unique book of short stories. Backstories is truly a fun, dynamic ‘game' for adults that will test your knowledge and memory on people in history as well as give you an insight into their lives that you may not be familiar with. A very thought-provoking and engaging book. Highly recommend.

This dinky sized chapter book is such a delight for small hands to hold and explore. The text is large and robust, the chapters are the perfect length for children who are new to reading chapter books and the quirky illustrations are spread evenly throughout the book.

The intriguing story of the boy who couldn't sleep added much fascination and questions from the children who were reading the story and prompted lots of discussions about the importance of sleep. The adventure that Uncle Pete goes on in order to help solve Harry's problems was exciting and mysterious. His little sidekick TM (tiny mouse) was a favourite character with the children adding humour and a touch of ‘cuteness' to the story.

The story is packed full of action from magical stardust, icy mountains, a cloud garden, a black cat wearing glasses and a journey that will ignite the imagination of its reader. The beautiful descriptions in the book allow for vivid images to be painted in one's head as well as providing vocabulary that is rich but easily accessible to young readers.

An exciting start to a new series of books for early readers. The children and I cannot wait for the next instalment of Uncle Pete and his tiny sidekick TM. Where will the adventure take us next?

What a stunning and intriguing front cover. This is book three in the Emily Knight series and although I haven't read the previous books this did not affect my overall enjoyment of the book. From the very beginning you are given lots of information about events that have taken place in the previous books so I always felt completely up-to-date on what was happening and the impact these events had had on the characters.

This book is full of adventure and action which will appeal to its readers. The pace is fast which helps capture ones imagination especially during the battle scenes. There is a real magical and fantasy element to the book which was not only intriguing but kept you guessing about what might happen next. Emily Knight is such a strong female protagonist and it was lovely to read a book rich in diversity and championing a female led.

Emily's family dramas and her unconventional family were definitely at the forefront of this novel and I loved how the book touched on the complexities of this family unit and on the themes of love and friendship. I loved the classroom questions that were added to the back pages which will promote lots of discussions about the book after reading.

Ben and the Bug is written in a poetic style with rhyming couplets. It demonstrates really clearly to children just how fast germs and bugs can spread and how to prevent them through regular washing of hands. The bug in this story is spreading the Coronavirus and as children are very aware of this virus at the moment it was lovely to see it featured in a picture book. Not only does it allow them to relate to something that they know about but it also reiterates the message of how to stay safe and stop the spread. As well as a story this book also provides information with a Did You Know? box on most pages. This is such a lovely added feature and something you can read alongside the story or afterwards. I know my daughter and class enjoyed spotting the information boxes on the pages as well as finding the little bug that was hidden on each page. The final pages are packed with more factual information on COVID19 which is great in providing children with further helpful information about the virus.

Reading Forget Russia felt more like a memoir than a novel as the writing was so emotive.
I loved the dual timeline which centred on the female characters Sarah and Anna. It was heartbreaking to hear Sarah's traumatic childhood experiences and how her life options were completely out of her control. Anna's fascination with Russia was admirable, she was desperate to find out more about her family heritage and Russian culture. Unfortunately, entering Russia during the height of the Cold War Anna is immersed into a disappointing world of the need in keeping secrets, fear of those in charge, and a host of deprived people.

The novel is well researched and L. Bordetsky-Williams paints such vivid imagery of what life was like in Russia for the Jewish nation in particular. I completely connected with both Sarah and Anna, their stories felt very authentic and it was hard to not become emotional invested. I found the political elements of the novel fascinating alongside the reverse migration where Russian-Jews were returning back to their motherland in hopes of a brighter future. The novel highlights the hopes and dreams held by it's nationals, their belief, determination and sacrifice to work for and redevelop their country. The harshness, conditions and exploitation they faced is just truly heartbreaking.

Many thanks to L. Bordetsky-Williams for taking me on a historical tour of Russia, for not only voicing the experiences for many Jews who lived in Russia during that time but in educating me.

This was the perfect page-turner and a great comfort read as I love thrillers.

Jessie, finds a room to rent in the bustling seaside town of Brighton. Her flatmates: friendly Lauren, vegan Sofie and the recluse Marcus all seem like the perfect housemates and just what Jessie is looking for, to make a fresh start away from her abusive ex-boyfriend. However, the mystery surrounding the woman who previously occupied Jessie's room and the strange noises in the night become unsettling for Jessie (and the reader!). Unfortunately, Jessie's new start doesn't go quite the way she hoped and she finds herself fleeing Brighton to escape the horrors that occur.

I loved the setting as I am very familiar with the streets of Brighton so I could really picture where Jessie was living. The tension builds on each page and you quickly realise that things are not as they first appear. You start to question everything and everyone and have a sickening sense that something bad is about to happen. The recipe of a great thriller.

There are a lot of subtle twists and surprises keeping you engaged in the story line and compelled to read on. The characters are realistic and intriguing; they all seem to have their own secrets and although the story was predominantly about Jessie I longed to know the backstory of the other characters. I was pleased that the author did reveal the mysteries surrounding the other characters which added to my enjoyment of the novel as a whole.

This is a novel where you can't help but become involve. You want to shout out at the characters, warning them of the potential dangers, scolding their actions, hugging and comforting them as well as shaking them. For me the book totally worked and the ending was another surprise that I did not anticipate. A great read to escape our current situation and to lose yourself in the winding lanes of Brighton.

Having lived in South East London for the majority of my life, I was thrilled to find that the setting of this book was in familiar locations to me, making it feel even more realistic and completely drawing me in. I loved the police reports and interview updates that were scattered throughout the novel. This added a uniqueness to the book and allowed the reader to find out snippets of what was to come, whetting your appetite and intriguing you further.

The opening pages: a body has been found deceased on the railway line with no identification or distinguishing features. Then we meet Kirsten, a mother to a teenage daughter and wife to Mark. Their lives are stuck in a rut. Mark enjoys keeping fit and cooking but has little time or energy to spend intimate time with Kirsten, which is getting her down. Kirsten is dragged to a school reunion and meets Dianne, an old school friend. Dianne introduces Kirsten to an agency for people who are happily married and don't want to leave their partners but are looking for casual sex. This is where Kirsten meets Zac.

Kirsten's world is brightened immediately by her secret meetings with Zac and everything is going well until Zac's starts to show up unannounced, breaking the rules that were stipulated by the agency. With Zac's appearances occurring more frequently and the threat of being exposed Kisten has no choice but to end her relationship with Zac. Then Zac's body is found on the railway and the police are questioning her about this man. How much longer can she keep her relationship with Zac a secret and how did Zac end up dead? Suicide or murder?

Kirsten is a very interesting character and one who I couldn't help but feel for. Her life has never quite gone the way she planned and now in her forties is left with a gaping hole where something is missing. Her infidelity is out of character for her and although she has regrets about cheating on her long-term partner is actually enjoying life more, is more fulfilled. However, nothing last forever and she is aware she is on borrowed time before her whole world comes crashing down and she loses the things she holds dear to her - her family. The tension races through the book and builds as Zac's behaviour becomes more sporadic and unpredictable. The police reports and interviews with Kirsten creates an intensensity to the novel that left me holding my breath at times. I never could predict what would happen next which kept me fully engrossed and invested in the storyline. Reckless would make for one epic tv series.

A truly fascinating read; racy, intriguing and unputdownable.

I am a big fan of historical fiction novels especially when they are set in England. From the very beginning your heart goes out to Hannah who finds herself an orphan at the age of ten. Until that moment her world has been of a privileged one where she has been educated, learning to read and write. She suddenly finds herself in a poorhouse and then finds work as a housemaid in the Buttermere household. As Mrs Buttermere moves to York, Hannah finds herself working for a new family, the Chalkes. The house is very run down and not a patch on the Buttermere's house. Peg, a thin, dirty and crippled woman is the only other hired help in the house. Hannah makes it her mission to care for Peg and nourish her back to better health. The Chalkes are cruel and secretive and although Hannah has been warned by others to leave she is determined to unravel the strange goings-on in the house.

You immediately feel for Hannah, a child having the responsibility of serving two loathsome individuals. As you turn the pages Hannah's fate worsens and you wonder how she is going to survive. The twists in this book are shocking and heartbreaking all at the same time. Maggie Richell-Davies paints a very clear and bleak picture of the poorest, deprived areas of London during the Georgian period. She captures the hardships, harshness and feelings of powerless beautifully throughout her novel, provoking emotions making it utterly heartbreaking in places.

I adored Peg, Hannah and Nellie. These powerful women through grit, determination and hard work are survivors. Although all alone in the world they reach out to one another, put their trust in each other, displaying both kindness and loyalty. Their friendship truly uplifted and balanced the novel as did the romantic element that weaved through.

A thoroughly enjoyable read.

This book is perfect for readers aged 9+ and was such an enjoyable read. I adored Golding's The Tigers in the Tower so I knew I would fall in love with the Jane Austen Investigates series as well. Golding's writing flows beautifully from the pages. There is a great balance of description, dialogue, humor and plenty of action to keep the reader fully engaged. Golding's characters are the real star of her books and Jane Austen is the protagonist I craved to be as a child. She is gutsy, clever and bold. I love how Golding champions the less fortunate characters in her novels and her mix of Jane, Luke and Deepti was just perfect in this story. This book took me back to my own childhood when I thrived on reading The Secret Seven and The Famous Five.

The historical setting really heightened my enjoyment of the novel and I'm sure many children will also enjoy this element as well as broadening their knowledge of the past. There were a few red-herrings along the way as to who had stolen the horses and set the Library on fire which kept me guessing. I loved the addition of Grandison, Jane's dog! Every good sleuth needs a dog on the trail with them. The letters that Jane writes to her sister, that are included at the end of some chapters, are delightful and add an extra magical and somewhat humorous element to the novel. These were always an expected gem hidden within the pages. There was so much to love about this book from the setting, rich characters, and complex plot that will keep the readers gripped. This truly is a charming book and I very much look forward to reading the rest of the series and sharing this with my daughter when the time is right.

I found the book to be an easy read and was full of surprises. The main character Tammy was someone who broke all stereotypical moulds and I loved both her and the author for making her both diverse and who openly shocked me with her behaviour throughout the novel. The story line was intriguing and although didn't focus too heavily on the actual brutal murder of the children it was the underlying crime that dominated the novel. This allowed me to get swept away with the story and not too emotionally disturbed by the killings. For me, it was just the right balance.

Along with Tammy I found all the characters to be well developed and evolved alongside the plot. The ending was very satisfying, tying up all loose ends to the crimes being investigated. I particularly enjoyed the final pages and the epilogue which highlighted what each of the characters were up to now. This added an element of realism to the ending which I found fulfilling and rounded off the novel well.

Deep Cover by Leigh Russell, published by noexitpress is book number 16 in the Geraldine Steel series but can be read as a standalone.

Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel is investigating the murder of a sex worker who has been found in the local woods but she is finding it hard to focus, as her partner has moved away following their recent split. Unbeknown to Geraldine, Ian has moved to London to work undercover, trying to take down a criminal drugs gang.

The two investigations run parallel in this novel making it a pacey, intriguing read. Ian's work is dangerous and gritty, adding a dark edge to the storyline. Geraldine's investigation takes an unexpected turn as another body is found and the hunt for a serial killer is on.

An action-packed police drama full of twists and lots of tension. Leigh puts her characters to the forefront of her novels making for a compelling read. If you love police procedurals then why not add this series to your reading list.

This character-driven novel takes you to a small community in Ireland where everybody knows everyone but is supportive and rich in spirit.

Lucy a single mother, recently divorced is tired of her busy job as a Doctor in her local A&E department at the hospital. Her son is away at boarding school and spends most of his time gaming when he is home. She decides to have a ‘break' from it all and goes to visit her mother in her hometown of Ballycove.

Jo is delighted in welcoming her daughter and grandson to Ballycove and fusses over them as any mother/grandmother would. Although, Jo realises she needs to admit the truth to her daughter (and herself) about her health, as she has been in denial for a while now.

Elizabeth, a recent widow, finds herself learning to cope after the death of her husband and coming to terms with his secrets that could shatter and pull her under.

These women show bravery, determination and support one another through their hardships. Along the way they find laughter, love and acceptance. It was hard not to get caught up in the lives of these three women and although there were moments of heartbreak and sadness in the book there was also the power of friendship and human kindness. Ballycove really was the place with a big heart and an idyllic place to live.

I loved the concept of the ‘Midnight Swimming Club' that Jo inspired the women to participate in although there would be no way I would venture into the Irish Sea at any time of day let alone at midnight! This coming together, stripping back the day's stresses and just being in the moment provided a rawness of emotions which made for a powerful read.

Hogan's writing is poignant, gentle and touching. I got swept along with the plot, the characters and the beautiful setting. Although there is some sadness it also had a feel-good feel to the novel which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Ed Truman a lawyer, father to Ally and Mitchell and husband to Gabrielle suddenly finds himself on the run, as he is the prime suspect in a murder investigation; they have his DNA on the victim! But Ed isn't running to avoid jail, he is innocent after all, he needs to find his daughter who has gone missing. Ally has got herself caught up in an alt-right incel group called The Men Together and he knows they are behind her disappearance. He just needs to find her before they do something dramatic to completely shut her up forever.

This fast past thriller was totally captivating. I loved how the short chapters really pulled you in and left you wanting more, therefore I found myself just having to read one more chapter. The Box itself is a terrifying torture chamber and the chapters dedicated to the box were sporadically spaced out in the novel creating a dark and intense atmosphere in the book. The chapters alternated between Ed and the police, led by badass DCI Jackie Rose. A character who is not afraid to bend the law slightly in order to get results, oh how I adored her.

This is an action-packed novel with Ed being chased by not only the police but by The Men Together Organisation. There were lots of twists and turns that I didn't see coming as well as some terrifying scenes and poignant themes explored in the book.

Highly recommended for those who enjoy a good twisty thriller, a cat-and-mouse crime story and a sci-fi futuristic novel. In my opinion this had a good balance of each genre.

This charming novel was the perfect read after the end of term busyness and the lead-up to Christmas. Although The Bone Ranger is the second book in the Monty Dog Detective series it can also be read as a stand-alone.

Rose is a detective working for the Major Crimes unit; due to a recent traumatic case, which nearly cost Rose her life, she is on sick leave and can only return back to work once the psychiatrist gives her a clean bill of health. As of yet, Rose hasn't attended any appointments. During a routine visit to the supermarket, Rose is stopped by a young woman who recognises her, and her dog, from solving a recent murder case. She asks for Rose's help in finding her friend who has gone missing. Adamant that she doesn't want to go to the police Rose calls her work colleague Joe to help her look into the case.

Over the course of the next few days Rose finds herself emerged in a murder investigation (albeit on the sidelines and without the support of her former boss and colleagues), a suspicious farmer, a series of dognapping in the local area and in helping a young boy escape the thugs who threaten to hurt him. This is just the distraction that Rose needs and a way of avoiding her psychiatrist appointments. With the help of her faithful crime-seeking dog, Monty, and her friends Joe and Malcolm the vet, Rose sets off on a mission to solve the recent crimes and in doing to prove to her boss that she is fit to return to the job the loves.

This cosy mystery was very endearing and quite the page-turner. I loved how the chapters were split between Rose and Monty and how the author truly captured the voice of Monty. You can tell that Bennet is a dog owner and any dog lover will appreciate how she has completely captured the spirit and personality of a dog through her storytelling and depiction of Monty. I must admit when reading I often thought about my own dog and would laugh along at some of the things that Monty was ‘saying'.

A clever read for anyone who enjoys cosy mysteries, is a dog lover or a pet owner. This book made me smile, kept me entertained and was a fantastic read. Many thanks to Louisa Bennet for gifting me a copy of The Bone Ranger. I will look forward to more in the Monty Dog Detective series.

I have been saving this book to read over the summer and I'm so glad I did. It was the perfect cosy summer read sat outside in the sun with a cold drink and emerging myself in the idyllic Irish setting. The atmospheric castle was a great backdrop for the novel combined with the hustle and bustle of a busy restaurant.

Darcy returns home to help her mother who has fallen and injured herself. Every year Diana hosts a baking competition and with finances struggling to keep them afloat, she needs to make sure that this year the publicity from the filming of the show is fruitful. With the help of her daughter Darcy and another baker, Beatrice, Diana prays this will help keep the castle going. Unfortunately, Beatrice is not the sweet and innocent character Diana was tricked into believing and with the arrival of Beatrice a whole whirlwind of chaos and destruction follows.

In contrast to Beatrice, Darcy is the easy-going, girl next door character who although is camera shy, agrees to be filmed to help out the family business. Whilst she has known some of the staff since she was a child, Darcy finds her childhood crush is growing stronger and her heart beats faster every time she is near the hot-headed chef Conor.

This was the perfect romantic story, combined with hidden family secrets and the appreciation of food. I loved the recipes and food blogs that featured in the novel as well as the mystery surrounding Colleen. A Summer At The Castle is a truly comforting read.

This fun, colourful book is such a delight to read and makes it all the more special knowing that this book was written for The Boat of Hope project. Their purpose is to help open up conversations with children about mental health across the world and to provide help and support for young people and their families.

Bernie and Boatie tells the story of a little boat anchored in Liverpool docks. She is too scared to sail the sea until one day Bernie comes along, he promises to take her for a ride. Along the way they face a terrible storm which threatens to destroy them both. But through the ups and the downs and the support they give one another they ride that storm and realise they are not alone and in this together.

Natalie Reeves Billing is such a magical lyrical storyteller, her writing flows beautifully through the book capturing the characters' emotions and echoing words of encouragement that every child needs to hear. Although the characters face moments of stress, anxiety and difficultly there is also a calmness that is portrayed which encourages the reader to acknowledge that these moments don't last forever.

The illustrations are so fun and you may be able to spot a few celebrities hiding in the pages. Another thing to spot is the hope spark on each page.

All proceeds from the book go the The Boat of Hope charity.