Good afternoon everyone and happy Friday. I’m excited to share a Book Spotlight for Christmas By Candlelight by Karen Swan today.

I absolutely love Karen’s books, especially her Christmas ones as they are always wonderfully festive and help get me into the Christmas Spirit. I was thrilled to receive a copy of this, her latest book and I look forward to reading this on the run up to Christmas.

Huge thanks to the lovely Chloe from Pan Macmillan for my copy of this book which is out on the 26th October 2023.

Do you like festive books? When do you start reading them?

Book Synopsis:

Snowed in for the holidays . . .

It’s three days before Christmas and starting to snow when high-flier Libby and her new boyfriend reluctantly attend her university reunion on the way back from a wedding in Yorkshire.

Hosted by Archie Templeton – the heartbreaker of their group – at his grand family estate, the night is a great success until they go to leave: the road is now impassable and they’re given a bed for the night.

At first, being snowed in together is fun as the old friends wait in high spirits for the farmer to clear a path. But as hours pass with no news, everyone grows restless.

Then the power goes out . . .

Hunkered down together by candlelight, they reminisce about old times – and tensions soon start to rise. Secrets from the past begin to unravel and Libby is confronted with a truth she has long tried to deny.

About The Author:

Karen Swan is the Sunday Times Top Three and international best-selling author. Her novels sell all over the world and she writes two books each year – one for the summer period and one for the Christmas season. Her books are known for their evocative locations and Karen sees travel as vital research for each story. She loves to set deep, complicated love stories within twisting plots.

The Last Summer is the first book in her five-book historical series called The Wild Isle Girls, set around the dramatic evacuation of the Scottish island St Kilda in the summer of 1930. It was partly inspired by Karen’s Scottish roots: her father’s family came from Skye, moving to Fort William where Karen was christened and where many of her family still live. Her childhood memories are full of Christmases, Hogmanay and summer holidays spent in the Highlands and she was married there in 2001.

She lives in Sussex with her husband, three children and two dogs.

Book Synopsis:

1968, Sicily Just months after a terrible earthquake has destroyed the mountain town of Gibellina, Enzo and his wife Irene Borgata are making their way back to the family home, Villa Alba, on roads overlooked by the eerie backdrop of the flattened ghost town. When their car breaks down, Enzo leaves his young wife to go and get help, but when he returns there is no trace of Irene. No body, no sign of a struggle, nothing.

2003. TV showman and true crime aficionado Milo Conti is Italy’s darling, uncovering and solving historic crimes for his legion of fans. When he turns his attention to the story of the missing Irene Borgata, accusing her husband of her murder, Enzo’s daughter Maddi asks her childhood friend, retired detective April Cobain, for help to prove her father’s innocence. But the tale April discovers is murky: mafia meetings, infidelity, mistaken identity, grief and unshakable love. As the world slowly closes in on the claustrophobic Villa Alba, and the house begins to reveal its secrets, will the Borgata family wish they’d never asked April to investigate? And what did happen to Enzo’s missing wife Irene?

Bestselling author Louise Douglas returns with an irresistibly compelling, intriguing and captivating tale of betrayal, love, jealousy and the secrets buried in every family history.

My Review:

The Secret Of Villa Alba was an intriguing, gripping dual timeline mystery which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Firstly I really loved the vivid descriptions of Sicily which really made Italy come to life for me. It seems like a beautiful place and I’d love to visit there one day to see the beautiful sounding beaches or walk in the mountains. This is not a book to read while hungry as there were lots of mouth watering descriptions of food throughout the book which sounded absolutely delicious. I actually had to Google recipes for some of the food mentioned as it sounded so good.

The story is told from the point of view of Irene, newly married into the Borgata family and April a retired Inspector who is trying to solve the mystery of Irene’s disappearance. I really loved both the main characters and enjoyed following them throughout the book. They were both strong women, nursing heartache which made me immediately on their side. I felt especially sorry for Irene who was trying to get used to a new country and deal with other family members expectations about what she should be doing.

Overall I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to read more from this author in the future. The story starts off slowly as the author sets the scene but soon picks up as more about life at the villa is revealed. I quickly found I couldn’t put the book down and often stayed up far too late at night as I was so intrigued by what was happening. I had lots of guesses as to what had happened but I was proven wrong about all of them which I always love. The ending was unexpected and absolutely amazing. My jaw was on the floor as all was slowly revealed as I never would have expected it to end that way.

If you are a fan of gripping, dual timeline books then I highly recommend this book!

About The Author:

I’m Louise, I live in Somerset in South West England & I write contemporary Gothic mysteries mostly set in the countryside close to where I live.

Thrilled to have won the RNA Jackie Collins Romantic Thriller award 2021 for The House by the Sea.When I’m not writing, I love to spend time with my family, friends, kind & funny people and animals – especially dogs, birds and whales. I’m passionate about nature, being outside, drawing wildlife, walking, beaches, fictional drama and books.I really hope you enjoy my books.

If you’d like to connect, find me on Facebook Louise Amy Douglas or @LouiseDouglas3 on Twitter.

Good morning everyone I thought I’d do a book spotlight today for this fascinating book.

The Virago Book Of Witches came into our bookstore and I immediately grabbed a copy. Anything to do with Witches or folklore fascinates me so I look forward to reading this soon.

Do you like witchy books? What’s your favourite?

Book Synopsis:

Beware the women who are called witches, or those who claim the name for themselves…

Banshees – a howling night-witch and harbinger of death; She-devils – Lilith and her daughters; or Bitches – Hecate, whose chariot is drawn by dogs.

Alluring women, enchantresses, seekers of revenge, wise old women and badly-behaved girls. As Shahrukh Husain says, witches are ‘womanhood in all its complexity’.

Over fifty stories of crones and nixies, shape shifters and beauties are here, including the loving fox witch of Japan; Italy’s Witch-Bea-Witch; Scotland’s Goodwife of Laggan; Biddy Earl and the terrifying Kali and Baba Yaga who comes in many forms to haunt, entice, possess, transform and challenge.

From every corner of the globe, with tom-foolery, fun, strife and victory, these folklore and legends celebrate women who step out of line.

About The Author:

Shahrukh Husain writes fiction, non-fiction and scripts for children and adults. She’s recently added a novel to the list. She is passionate about world mythology and folklore which provides a link between her two jobs: writing and psychoanalysis. She was born in Karachi, Pakistan and lives in London with her husband Christopher Shackle. She has two children, three step-children and half a dozen grand-children (she dropped the ‘step’ after the first generation).

websites:www.Shahrukh-Husain.com and ShahrukhHusain.com

Good morning everyone. I’m really enjoying reading romance books at the moment. With the kids at home they are fun, easy and gripping reads that are easy to pick up when I have a few spare minutes. Though it can be a bit awkward when the kids ask me what my books about!

These are some of the books I’ve bought recently and want to read soon:

❤️ Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

🧡Twisted Love by Ana Huang

💛 Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score

💚 Business Or Pleasure by Rachel Lyn Solomon

💙 Well Met by Jen DeLuca

💜 The Secret Service Of Tea And Treason by India Holton

🩷 Wanderlust by Elle Everhart

Some of these are part of the Romance read-along I’m taking part in with Tandem Collective and some are recommendations from my fellow book lovers. I’m taking a few of these on holiday with me and I’m really looking forward to reading them.

Have you read any of these? Do you have any romance suggestions for me?

Good morning everyone today on Two For Tuesday I’m featuring two new historical fiction books I’ve bought recently.

I’m a huge fan of Anita Frank and have loved her last two books. I was very excited to hear she has a new book out and immediately preorded it. It sounds fabulous and I can’t wait to read it soon.

The Physician’s Daughter was one of the choices for the Historical Fiction Bookclub I’m in for September. Sadly it didn’t win but it sounded so intriguing that I knew I’d have to read it so bought myself a copy.

Historical Fiction has always been one of my favourite genres so I’m excited to read these soon.

What’s your favourite genre?

The Good Liars by Anita Frank

From the author of stunning historical fiction books comes a new story of crime, deceit, and murder, set in the early 1920s…

In the summer of 1914 a boy vanishes, never to be seen again.

Now, in 1920, the once esteemed Stilwell family of Darkacre Hall find themselves struggling with the legacy of the First World War. Leonard bears the physical scars, while his brother Maurice has endured more than his mind can take. Maurice’s wife Ida yearns for the lost days of privilege and pleasure and family friend Victor seems unwilling to move on.

But their lives are thrown into further disarray when the missing boy’s case is reopened – and this time they themselves are under police scrutiny.

As the dead return to haunt the living, old resentments resurface and loyalties are tested, while secrets risk being unearthed that could destroy them all.

The Physician’s Daughter by Martha Conway

1865. The American Civil War has just ended.

When Vita Tenney’s father tells her she must abandon her dream of becoming a doctor and get married instead, she looks for a means of escape – and finds one in war veteran Jacob Culhane. Damaged by
what he’s seen in battle and with all his family gone, Jacob is seeking a new start. Then he meets Vita
and together they hatch a plan. But even the best plans have unexpected consequences . . .

Sweeping and atmospheric, The Physician’s Daughter is a compelling story of ambition, betrayal and love
and of two people trying to make their way in a world that is struggling to escape its past.

Good afternoon everyone I thought I’d do a book spotlight for this fantastic sounding book today. I’ve absolutely loved the author’s previous books so I’m very excited to read this soon!

Huge thanks to the lovely Chloe from Pan Macmillan for my copy of this book.

Book Synopsis:

Looking to escape her old life, Nancy and her ten-year-old daughter Lara move to Ripton. A quiet, picturesque village in the rolling Derbyshire countryside, it seems like the perfect place to settle down.

But when Nancy reaches the school gates, she learns that beneath the quaint village atmosphere is a minefield. And after her daughter clashes with her school friends, Nancy quickly finds herself outside the whispering circle of parents.

As much as Nancy finds the playground politics absurd, they soon become impossible to ignore when Lara is accused of hurting another girl.

Desperate to clear Lara’s name, Nancy is about to learn just what lengths a parent will go to for their child . . .

About The Author:

Michelle Frances graduated from Bournemouth Film School and then from the Masters programme at the American Film Institute, Los Angeles. Returning to London, she has worked for several years in film and TV as a script editor and producer for both the independent sector and the BBC.

Her debut novel, The Girlfriend, was an international bestseller. She is also the author of The Playground, The Boyfriend, Sisters, The Daughter and The Temp.

Book Synopsis:

Lovelight Farms is a wholesome rom-com featuring a handsome, freckled data analyst, a messy, optimistic Christmas tree farm owner, and a small town with the best hazelnut lattes on the east coast. This sweet and steamy romance, by B. K. Borison, is a holiday happily-ever-after for fans of Tessa Bailey and Hannah Grace.

In an effort to save the Christmas tree farm she’s loved since she was a child, Stella enters a contest with insta-famous influencer Evelyn St. James. With the added publicity and the huge cash prize, she might just be able to save the farm from its financial woes. There’s just one problem. To make the farm seem like a romantic destination for the holidays, she lied on the application and said that she owns Lovelight Farms with her boyfriend. Only . . . there is no boyfriend.

Enter best friend Luka Peters. He just came home for some hot chocolate, and somehow got a farm and a serious relationship in the process. Will their fake love affair save Lovelight Farms in time for Christmas?

My Review:

Lovelight Farms is a warm, cosy festive read which I absolutely loved!

Firstly I absolutely loved the fabulous descriptions of Lovelight Farm and I really wish it was a real place as I’d be visiting there at every opportunity. It sounded so beautiful with the trees, ice skating rink, lights and don’t even get me started with the descriptions of Layla’s baking! It seemed like a really magical place and I loved spending time there throughout the book, especially as I sometimes felt like I was actually there experiencing everything first hand.

Stella is an interesting main character and one that took me a while to warm to. I really felt for her and everything that she’d experienced but I sometimes wanted to shake her too as she just seemed to doubt everything. Her relationship with Luca was lovely to follow and I enjoyed seeing their relationship change from friends to lovers. I felt fully invested in their relationship and was routing for them the whole time.

I thought the book had a great pace to it and I was soon absorbed into the story, unable to put the book down as I really needed to see what happens next. There were a few storylines that merged together nicely and I liked that they involved different people as it meant I got to know more of the characters at once. The ending was perfect and I closed the book with a happy sigh, though sad to leave the wonderful characters behind. I’m very excited to read more from this series as it involves the same characters and settings. I can’t wait for my next visit to Lovelight Farms!

Huge thanks to the lovely Chloe from Pan Macmillan for my copy of this book. If you’re looking for a book to get you into the festive spirit I highly recommend this one.

About The Author:

Amazon bestselling author B.K. Borison is fueled almost entirely by coffee and spends her days with imaginary characters doing imaginary things. She lives in Baltimore with her little family, including her giant dog.

Good morning everyone and happy Sunday. These are some of the books I’ve added to my tbr this week:

❤️ The Physician’s Daughter by Martha Conway

🧡 The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths

💛 Nanny Wanted by Lizzy Barber

💚 The Book Woman Of Troublesome Creek

💙 Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

💜 The Good Liars by Anita Frank

Nanny Wanted and Shark Heart I bought after seeing the fantastic reviews of Short Book And Scribes and Love Reading This respectively. Do go check out their reviews. Shark Heart also happens to be a book club read for next month. Anita Frank and Elly Griffiths are favourite authors of mine so I’m very excited to read these new books. The other two books are ones I’ve wanted to read for ages so I’m pleased to finally have a copy.

In other news I’m going on holiday tomorrow for a week with my in laws. The place we are staying has no WiFi so sharing might be at odd times. My father in law had a signal last time and I could use his data through a hot spot so fingers crossed I can do that again. Apologies in advance for any missed shares.

What was the last book you added to your tbr list?

Book Synopsis:

In this captivating story from the bestselling author of Picking up the Pieces, Daisy has always envied the perfect family next door. But will a weekend of unexpected drama prove that the grass isn’t always greener?

Daisy Harrop has always felt like she exists in the background, and since her mother stopped getting out of bed, her life has come to a complete standstill. Daisy would give anything to leave the shabbiest house on the street and be more like the golden Kelleways next door, with their perfectly raked driveway and flourishing rose garden…

Winnie Kelleway is proud of the beautiful family she’s built. They’ve had their ups and downs—hasn’t everyone? But this weekend, celebrating her golden wedding anniversary is truly proof of their happiness, a joyful gathering for all the neighbours to see.

But as the festivities get underway, are the cracks in the ‘perfect’ Kelleway life beginning to show? As one bombshell revelation leads to another and events start to spiral out of control, Daisy and Winnie are about to discover that things aren’t always what they seem.

My Review:

All Good Things is another fantastic read from one of my favourite authors. I think I’ve read everything she’s written and in my opinion she keeps getting better and better.

I really enjoyed getting to know the two families and finding out more about them. The chapters are told from the perspective of a different family member in turn which was very interesting as the reader gets to see the story from everyone’s point of view. I really liked this approach as not only did it give me a fly on the wall glimpse into family life it also helped me understand the individual people more and discover more about their history. There are some brilliant characters in this book and I liked how my opinion of them changed over the course of the story as events unfolded.

I thought this story has a great pace to it and there always seemed to be something happening to keep me reading. The author slowly reveals little facts about the families which made for tantalising reading as I tried to work out how everything fitted together and how it would affect things. I really liked the way the author managed to mix warm, uplifting moments with some heartbreaking ones which I thought was very clever as it helped make a the story a very emotional but powerful one.

The ending was beautiful and while it wasn’t perhaps the ending I was hoping for it was probably more realistic that way.

Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Amanda Prowse is an International Bestselling author whose twenty-eight novels, two non-fiction titles and seven novellas have been published in dozens of languages around the world. Published by Lake Union, Amanda is the most prolific writer of bestselling contemporary fiction in the UK today; her titles also consistently score the highest online review approval ratings across several genres. Her books, including the chart-topping No.1 titles ‘What Have I Done?’, ‘Perfect Daughter’, ‘My Husband’s Wife’, ‘The Girl in the Corner’ and ‘The Things I Know’ have sold millions of copies across the globe.

A popular TV and radio personality, Amanda has appeared on numerous shows where her views on family and social issues strike a chord with viewers. She also makes countless guest appearances on BBC national and independent Radio stations including LBC, Times Radio and Talk FM, where she is well known for her insightful observations and her infectious humour. Described by the Daily Mail as ‘The queen of family drama’ Amanda’s novel, ‘A Mother’s Story’ won the coveted Sainsbury’s eBook of the year Award and she has had two books selected as World Book Night titles; ‘Perfect Daughter’ in 2016 and ‘The Boy Between’ in 2022.

Amanda is a huge supporter of libraries and having become a proud ambassador for The Reading Agency, works tirelessly to promote reading, especially in disadvantaged areas. Amanda’s ambition is to create stories that keep people from turning the bedside lamp off at night, great characters that ensure you take every step with them and tales that fill your head so you can’t possibly read another book until the memory fades…

Good morning everyone and happy Friday! I was ridiculously excited to receive a copy of this book through the post this week – there may have been squealing and dancing around the room involved 😳.

Kristen Hannah has long been one of my favourite authors and I’m so excited to read this book soon. I have now moved my planned holiday reading around so I can read this book next!

Are you a Kristin Hannah fan? What’s your favourite book?

Book Synopsis:

It would be the journey of a lifetime . . .

‘Women can be heroes, too’. When twenty-year-old nursing student, Frances “Frankie” McGrath, hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised on California’s idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being a good girl. But in 1965 the world is changing, and she suddenly imagines a different path for her life. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively joins the Army Nurses Corps and follows his path.

As green and inexperienced as the young men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed America. Frankie will also discover the true value of female friendship and the heartbreak that love can cause.

The Women is the story of one woman who goes to war, but it shines a light on the story of all women who put themselves in harm’s way to help others. Women whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has been all too often forgotten. A novel of searing insight and lyrical beauty, The Women is a profoundly emotional, richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose extraordinary idealism and courage under fire define an era.

About The Author:

Kristin Hannah is the award-winning and bestselling author of more than 20 novels. Her newest novel, The Women, about the nurses who served in the Vietnam war, will be released on February 6, 2024.

The Four Winds was published in February of 2021 and immediately hit #1 on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Indie bookstore’s bestseller lists. Additionally, it was selected as a book club pick by the both Today Show and The Book Of the Month club, which named it the best book of 2021.

In 2018, The Great Alone became an instant New York Times #1 bestseller and was named the Best Historical Novel of the Year by Goodreads.

In 2015, The Nightingale became an international blockbuster and was Goodreads Best Historical fiction novel for 2015 and won the coveted People’s Choice award for best fiction in the same year. It was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, iTunes, Buzzfeed, the Wall Street Journal, Paste, and The Week.

The Nightingale is currently in pre-production at Tri Star. Firefly Lane, her beloved novel about two best friends, was the #1 Netflix series around the world, in the week it came out. The popular tv show stars Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke.

A former attorney, Kristin lives in the Pacific Northwest.