Looking for something to read? Here’s a few books that I’ve read and loved over the past couple of months. You might enjoy them too!
The Soulmate by Rona Halsall
Do you believe in love at first sight?
Holly does, in spite of everything that’s happened in her life. Sometimes the thought that her soulmate is out there is the only thing that keeps her going.
Then she hears her favourite song being played. She’s drawn to where the sound is coming from, as if by a magnetic force. There is a handsome young man sitting at a public piano, who smiles at her, and she feels that spark she’s always dreamt of. She asks if she can join him, and sings along, seeing his face light up.
He’s called Mark, she later discovers. And he feels the same. They both feel like they’ve been hit with a thunderbolt. But even though it seems like they’ve known each other for lifetime, the truth is that they’re strangers.
Because Holly has secrets. And so does Mark.
And one of them might just kill to keep them)
Amazon (Preorder. Out on 30 January 2025
My Review
Dark, clever and twisty this captivating read holds you by the throat and keeps you there right until the chilling epilogue. It was hard to know which character to believe and just when I thought I’d worked it out another twist came along. This is a change of direction for Rona and is, in my opinion, her best work so far.
Onwards and Upwards by Celia Anderson
Ingrid is desperate to sell up and move on. Recently widowed, she no longer needs the large house or the treasures (and tat) collected by her late husband, Tommy, an auctioneer. Then there’s the debt he left her with, too.
So, she jumps at the chance to downsize and move to Willowbrook on a temporary lease. She’ll open a pop-up shop for just one year – to dispose of Tommy’s accumulated goods – and then move on. No getting embroiled in village life.
But Ingrid hasn’t reckoned on Willowbrook’s extrovert local ladies (known as the Saga Louts). Or handsome local craftsman Joel, with whom there’s a definite attraction. They all want to help set up ‘The Treasure Trove’.
Surprisingly, it turns out Ingrid can also help them.
Will she ever achieve the fresh start and simpler life she craved? Or will Ingrid discover a wonderful new way to move onwards and upwards?
Amazon (Preoder – available 20 January 2025)
My Review
I really enjoyed this story. Ingrid is a strong, relatable character, the Saga Louts are brilliant and there is a diverse range of characters to enjoy. I love the theme of never being too old for a second chance of life – and love. A feelgood, uplifting read.
The Perfect Boyfriend by S.E. Lynes
I know it’s him. He says we’ve never met. Why would he lie?
Her
When I see him, my heart stops dead. I tell myself it’s impossible, but I would recognise those striking pale blue eyes anywhere. It’s him. The high-school boyfriend I adored… Until the day he vanished without a trace.
I run towards him, my pulse racing. He turns, politely, a puzzled look on that familiar face. ‘I’m sorry,’ he says. ‘Do I know you?’
I need answers. I’m certain he’s lying. I just have to prove it.
Him
Of course you recognised me. Always so keen, always trying to do right by everyone.
It’s typical of my bad luck that we happened to run into each other.
I left this place for a reason – one you never knew. And now I’m back, I have plans.
And I’m afraid, my dear, that you’re getting in my way…
Amazon (Preorder, available 6 January 2025)
My Review
A twisty psychological thriller which kept me turning the pages. Kirsty is a midwife and is also pregnant herself, after a difficult birth she bumps into an anaesthetist who she is sure is her first boyfriend. He denies knowing her but she is convinced that he is lying. Then strange things start to happen and Kirsty finds herself not knowing who to trust. Told in dual viewpoint, this was an absorbing read.
The Girl in the Window by Diana Wilkinson
I know their secrets…
Every morning, I sit at the same table of my favourite café, sip my cappuccino, and watch them.
The woman has no idea I’m watching, day after day, unravelling the secrets of her life. I see the way she smiles when he arrives, how she glances over her shoulder… like someone who is hiding something.
She thinks she’s in control, but has no idea I’m on to them…
I know a lot more about the man. For a start, he’s not who he pretends to be – his lies are as plain as the nose on your face.
There’s more to this story than meets the eye, a lot more than I’ll ever let on. I already know a lot about the man, but have learnt so much more from watching.
Why do I think the man should tell me what’s going on?
Because he’s my husband. That’s why.
My Review
A roller coaster of a read with a unique premise. Izzy sits in the window of a café every morning and sees her husband call on a flat opposite, where a woman and a child live and starts to suspect that he has a secret. And he isn’t the only one! This is a tangled web with a great ending that kept me turning the pages.
The Silver-Haired Sisterhood by Judy Leigh
‘We’re celebrating life,’ Rose said. ‘Life, every single minute of it. Tell me, girls – is there ever anything better to celebrate than that?’
Five years after seventy-something Tess jetted off to Paris with her best friends, Jen, Rose, Della and Pam – the Five French Hens – for Jen’s hen do, a lot has changed. Prospective groom Eddie has been given the heave-ho, Tess’s husband has been sent packing and the Hens are making the most of their golden years.
But Tess is stuck in a rut. Rather than embrace her independence, she watches on as Rose wows Paris, Jen explores Iceland and Pam heads to Greece. But when tragedy strikes Della, Tess is shaken into action. They both need a change of scenery and longing to see the Northern Lights, they head to the Highlands of Scotland and the magical Isle of Skye.
There Tess and Della get more than they bargained for. Along with stunning scenery and breathtaking history, they find new friends, grand adventures and even romance. And when they’re joined by the other Hens, together they start plotting a fabulous new future for them all.
My Review
A heartwarming, funny and delightful book about five friends in their seventies who are living life to the full. Warm, relatable characters and an engaging storyline set on the beautiful island of Skye. This is my second Judy Leigh books and I highly recommend her work.
One More Lie by Sheryl Browne
My friends and I gather on the beach to celebrate the long summer ahead. Watching campfire embers dance into the inky sky, I don’t think I’ve ever been happier. Until a scream pierces the night. The next morning, we find shy newcomer Pippa on the beach, sandflies gathering on her lifeless body…
I told the police I didn’t see anything that night. I was young, scared, and full of guilt. I heard my friends telling the same story. It’s a lie that has haunted me ever since.
Now, twenty years later, on the anniversary of Pippa’s death, another one of our group is found dead. As we gather once again to say goodbye, I know it can’t be a coincidence. I look around at the tear-stained faces of my old school friends – people I thought I could trust – a protective hand on my growing belly. The police are asking questions again, and I have an impossible decision to make.
Do I tell one more lie, or confront my worst nightmare; that one of us is a killer, and one of us is next…
My Review
Captivating, compelling and a cunning twist at the end which I didn’t see coming. This is another fantastic psychological thriller from Sheryl Browne, which just keeps the twists coming. Something happens on night on a beach party with a group of friends and everyone else seems to move on, but it haunts Becky even years later. Then suddenly the friends all realise they are in danger. Is it connected to that dreadful night? Becky is convinced it is and will stop at nothing until she gets the truth, but the truth isn’t what she had imagined. Sheryl is skilful at suspenseful scenes which are full of emotion. She never disappoints.
The Wives by Valerie Keogh
Lies, secrets, deadly decisions…
When Natasha meets Daniel, she knows her life is made. Rich, handsome and charming, Daniel will make the perfect husband. Even if she won’t make the perfect wife…
She is thrilled when Daniel suggests an all-expenses paid cruise for Natasha, her friends, Barbara, Tracy Ann and Michelle, and their husbands. What better way to show everyone that Natasha has finally made it?
But as the ship sets sail, she learns that far from being the perfect husband, Daniel has terrible secrets that are about to be revealed. And each of the wives has their own reasons for wanting him dead.
This trip might cost more than any of them ever imagined…
My Review
This as a pacy, ‘keep you guessing’ read right from page one until the twisty end. Secrets, lies and revenge are the undercurrent to the story about four friends and their husbands who go on a cruise together but not all of them return home. Told from multiple viewpoints this keeps the punches coming. A great read.
The Bookshop at the Cornish Cove by Kim Nash
Dare to dream big…
When Nancy opened her dream bookshop overlooking the golden sands and shimmering waters of Driftwood Bay, she may have taken on a little too much. She might know all about books, but doesn’t know the first thing about business! She did however, want to do something meaningful with the inheritance money she got from her beloved Aunty Theresa.
When Dennis, visiting grandson of one of her dearest friends, offers to help, Nancy knows she can’t say no. Dennis is a high-flying businessman, with a fancy London job and a successful banking portfolio to prove it.
Trouble is, he makes the worst first impression. Nothing short of an insufferable know-it-all, Dennis takes every opportunity to remind her how out of her depth she is.
But Nancy knows her strengths, and just as much as she needs Dennis, he needs her too. There’s plenty she can teach him, and the more she shows off her world of Driftwood Bay, where the pace of life is slower and the morning sunrises are the most beautiful thing you can witness, perhaps they could become more than just business partners?
My Review
Reading a Kim Nash book is like sitting by a roaring fire with a mug of hot chocolate, chatting to a friend. They’re all such heartwarming, cosy reads. I love the fictional setting of Driftwood Bay and the wonderful cast of characters. Nancy’s bookshop sounds amazing and I love her ‘can do’ attitude. Recommended.
Karen King 