Having been privileged to pick up an early copy of Beautiful People by Amanda Jennings in Harrogate in July, I was delighted when a finished copy arrived too and must thank Isabel Williams at Harper Collins for sending it to me. I love Amanda Jennings’ writing and it’s my absolute privilege to review Beautiful People for My Weekly online today.

Published by HQ on 7th November 2024, Beautiful People is available for purchase through the links here.

Beautiful People

When Victoria escapes her broken home for university in London, she is determined to reinvent herself and make a fresh start. She falls in love with Nick, who welcomes her into his privileged circle of friends, opening her eyes to a world she only ever dreamt of.

Then life takes a darker turn.

Twenty-five years later, the circle is reunited alongside a host of glittering guests to celebrate the wedding of Hollywood darling Ingrid Olsson to ruthlessly well-connected Julian Draper. Victoria has spent years trying to forget Nick and put the horror of what happened behind her. Now she has to face the past she tried so hard to bury.

As the champagne flows and painful memories resurface, Victoria can’t shake the feeling that some people seem to get away with everything.

But maybe not this time.

Maybe this time, someone will pay the ultimate price.

My Review of Beautiful People

My full review of Beautiful People can be found on the My Weekly website here.

However, here I can say that Beautiful People is an intense, beautifully written narrative that not only enthralls the reader, but makes them rage too. It’s compelling, intelligent and gripping and I loved it.

Do visit My Weekly to read my full review here.

About Amanda Jennings

Amanda Jennings has written seven novels, and numerous short stories for anthologies and magazines, and is published both in the UK and abroad. She is a contributor to BBC Radio Berkshire and a long-standing judge for teh Henley Youth Festival literary competition, has taught writing workshops, and enjoys appearing at literary festivals. Before becoming an author, Amanda worked at the BBC as a researcher , and studied History of Art at Cambridge University.

For further information, visit Amanda’s website or follow Amanda on Twitter/X @MandaJJennings, or find her on Facebook and Instagram.

If you’re a regular visitor to Linda’s Book Bag, you’ll have noticed fewer blog tours and staying in posts of late. I’m finding there’s just too much happening in my life at the moment to deal with them. That said, I couldn’t resist inviting A J Aberford onto the blog today to tell me all about his latest release in the Detective George Zammit series as I think it sounds great.

Let’s find out more:

Staying in with A J Aberford

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag AJ. Thank you for agreeing to stay in with me.

Well, thanks for inviting me in!!

My pleasure. Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

I’m bringing the sixth book in the Detective George Zammit series, called The Car Horn Revolution, which can also be read as a stand-alone, despite being the last in the series. It features a Maltese policeman, who finds himself in perilous situations, not of his own making, across the Southern Mediterranean. The locations of the stories range from the deserts of Libya and the shores of the Bosphorus, to the palazzos of Milan and the Greek islands. However, in this book, the action is centred firmly on the beautiful island of Malta.

Oo. I love a book where I can travel vicariously. What can we expect from an evening in with The Car Horn Revolution?

George is no ordinary sleuth; in fact, he couldn’t be more different. He finds himself surrounded by corrupt politicians, a fearsome organised crime family and manipulative superiors. Despite this, he always manages to find a way through the complexities of island life and the turmoil of the many countries that border the Med. The geopolitics of the area is a rich source of plot lines. Ongoing conflicts in Libya, Syria, Greece and Turkey all feature in the series, along with the ever-present threat of the eruption of Sicily’s Mount Etna. No crime story set in Southern Europe would be complete without the presence of the Cosa Nostra, Camorra and ‘Ndrangheta. Take your pick, all make an appearance! But while it might all sound heavy, there’s also a rich vein of humour running through the stories.

It sounds as if George has quite a bit to deal with. How does he cope?

In a country where corruption plays a big part in everyday life, George is faced with moral dilemmas on a daily basis. He rubs along with politicians, criminal gang leaders and power brokers; he has to – on small island you can’t arrest everybody! In The Car Horn Revolution, his resolve is tested to the limit when the country he loves falls under the influence of seriously powerful, foreign forces (to say more would be to risk a spoiler!) and he’s expected to become complicit in a regime he cannot accept.

That sounds intriguing. Tell me more about George.

George is not your typical hero. He is not courageous, and his waist line shows he cannot resist a fresh pastizzi when the smell of freshly baked filo pastry drifts across his path. He avoids trouble when he can, although trouble always has a knack of finding him. At home, he is at the mercy of his fearsome wife, Marianna, and their daughter Gina.

He sounds a bit outnumbered!

If George has an ally, it is their son, Denzel, a competent and upright police sergeant with whom George shares his later adventures. Their relationship, and the subject of family, is a theme of the series. Denzel features prominently in The Car Horn Revolution, as do the rest of George’s characterful family. Below is the scene from The Car Horn Revolution, when you meet the family for the first time. Denzel has just broken up a mass fight, involving Russian sailors, in the Paceville entertainment district, one of whom has been declared dead, and he doesn’t like how the newspaper has reported it:

The Zammits lived in Birkirkara, one of the most densely populated neighbourhoods in Malta. The majority of the three-storey blocks were split into apartments, and the family considered itself lucky to have a ground-floor property with sole access to a small central courtyard, where George’s wife Marianna could dry washing and tend her pots of herbs, and he could grab the occasional after-lunch nap. In Malta, families tended to stick together and, more often than not, remained living in the same tight-knit neighbourhoods. So, although there was mutual support within the area and lifelong friendships were forged, everybody also knew everybody else’s business, their secrets and their comings and goings. And nobody paid more attention to these, or was better informed about local goings on, than Marianna Zammit.

Unbeknownst to her, the drama that was to unfold over the coming weeks and months, and that would be talked about in the neighbourhood for years to come, was taking shape in her very own kitchen.

Denzel Zammit was steaming with anger. He threw the Malta Telegraph across the kitchen, shouting: “It’s lies! Damn’ lies!”

Rummaging on the floor, he picked up a sheet of newsprint and scoured the article for the quote.

“It says, ‘The sailor’s shipmates arrived on the scene later, to try and lend assistance…’ They were almost on the point of raping two bar girls when I got there! And that manager guy, Vassallo… I’m going round there again tonight and I’ll find some underage drinkers, you’ll see! And then I’ll have his licence!”

Marianna was alarmed by the outburst.

“Sit down, bravu! I’m sure you did your best, but that Paceville… well, it’s a Godless place. You should get danger money for even going there. Anyway, I don’t want talk about such nasty things in my house!”

But Denzel was not to be placated. He smoothed the paper over the table, covering the bottom of the page with tomato and caper sauce from his pasta, as he angrily read aloud.

“‘The Pulizija took so long to tidy up the scene that large crowds gathered at the top and bottom of the stairs…’ It was a crime-scene, for God’s sake! Someone had been murdered, but Lord forbid it should be allowed to get in the way of a night out.’

George stirred from his seat and went to stand behind his son. He put his arms gently on the young man’s shoulders. Denzel was tall for a Maltese man, at just under two metres, and exceptionally tall for a Zammit, none of whom had ever before broken through the 1.75-metre barrier. Where his father was short and squat, Denzel carried his height well and his figure was athletic, in contrast to his father’s increasing portliness.

“Listen, Denzel, where did that witness statement come from?”

He glanced back to the top of the page.

“A spokesperson from Armed Forces of Malta?”

“Exactly. I think AFM have become far too cosy with our Russian friends, ever since they gave us those three patrol vessels. They were worth tens of millions and there’s talk of more to come. Tomorrow, we’ll have a chat with our own PR people and tell them about the forty-eight sailors who’ve been banned from future visits to Malta and who were handed over to the Russian Navy to be disciplined. Plus, the two who were charged with sexual assault and ended up in Corradino. That should put a different spin on the story. Leave it to me.”

George winked at him. Denzel was still not appeased.

“It’s still not right, is it? How can AFM just do that? Christ, they’re such liars! It’s getting more like Moscow every day here!”

“Listen, calm down. We need a little chat after dinner. You won’t mind if we don’t do the dishes tonight, will you, Marianna? Denzel and I need to talk shop for half an hour.”

He caught his wife’s eye and winked at her. She huffed and said:

“Doesn’t bother me, as long as it stops all this shouting and blaspheming. Father Peter wouldn’t be pleased to hear you using the Lord’s name like that. You bear that in mind at your next Confession, young man!”

“Oh, Ma, really! Confession? I haven’t been since I told Father Peter about me and Bella Brincat, and that was over fifteen years ago, so I’m hardly going to start now.”

His mother turned her back on Denzel and started clearing dishes.

“Uwejja,! C’mon! Did you hear that, George? You’d better have a word with him about being a good Catholic. I don’t want any more shame brought on this family.” There was a pause while Marianna clattered some pots and pans. The men looked at each other and Denzel mouthed to his father: ‘What shame?’

And of course I want to know the answer to Denzel’s question now! So, how has the book been received so far AJ, as it’s a pretty new release?

As well as action, crime fighting and deeds of ‘daring do’, the book also has a light touch, with, I hope, plenty of comedy to add relief to some of the tenser plot lines. Beneath are some of the comments people have been kind enough to leave:

“AJ Aberford is at it again with his inimitable, fast paced storytelling.  So buckle up and enjoy te ride with Inspector George Zammit, as he faces impossible odds.  A must read!”

Peter Portelli, bestselling Maltese author of The Order

 “Binged for a whole weekend on this – I just couldn’t put it down.  Absolutely riveting!  It’s that good!”

Rita Camilleri, Maltese actress

 “The Maltese equivalent of Frost…such a lovely character…LOVED IT!”

Carole Gourley

 “A genuine masterclass in how to craft a page turner!”

Clare Kernan

“At times, this is almost too close to contemporary themes.”

Amazon Customer

You must be delighted with those responses. They make me even more keen to read The Car Horn Revolution.

What else have you brought along and why have you brought it?

I’ve brought a hamper of Maltese specialities to enjoy as we sit and discuss the book!

On most street corners in Malta, you’ll find one of the many pastizzerija. They sell pastizzi, which are diamond shaped, filo pastry snacks, filled with ricotta cheese or mashed peas-  like something Greggs would sell!! I agree with George, one is never enough. And I’ve managed to keep them warm!

I’ve also brought a selection of Maltese cheeses, called Gbejna. The cheese is made with sheep’s milk and can be soft and mild, or cured in salt to firm it up and make it tangy.  My favourite is, tal-bzar, which is the cheese covered in black pepper that adds a spicy kick.

As a special treat, I’ve I brought a dip, called bigella, made from broad beans, mixed with garlic, capers and chilli flakes. This is sold from the back of colourful vans that tour the island, playing music, as the vendors cry out ‘Bigella!’ when they stop. A bit like an ice cream van in the UK. It is served on small salty crackers.

If you’re going to bring such delicious food AJ, you can come again. 

We definitely need a bottle of Maltese wine to wash it down. Maltese wine, both red and white, is excellent, although because the vineyards are very small, all the work is done by hand, so good wine can be expensive. As this is a special evening I have brought a bottle of red, made from a Maltese grape variety called Ġellewża. This is an indigenous grape that comes from a vineyard on the south of the island, well-suited to Malta’s hot and dry climate, and makes for a rich, fruity red. I hope you’re a red wine drinker!!

Er… actually no, I’m not. I had a weird virus that made me pass out and hallucinate and since then I’ve been unable to drink wine as it makes me really ill!

If not, there is a bottle of Kinnie. It’s a bright orange pop, made from bitter Maltese oranges and herbs.

That sounds perfect! Thanks so much for staying in with me to chat about The Car Horn Revolution AJ.

Thanks Linda. It’s been great to have a night in and drop my book into Linda’s Book Bag!

I think it best if you pour the drinks and serve up those pastizzi before they get cold and I’ll give readers a few more details about The Car Horn Revolution.

The Car Horn Revolution

As Malta’s reputation as a hotbed of political corruption continues unabated, George Zammit finds himself temporarily promoted to Assistant Commissioner in the Maltese Pulizija. But life at the top is proving even more perilous and unpredictable than it was when he was a humble inspector, especially the political side to his new job.

Malta is drawing the attention of outside forces, attracted by the island’s strategic position in the Mediterranean. A foreign power wants greater influence in the region and will stop at nothing to achieve it, threatening Malta’s very independence.

When George’s son, Denzel, takes drastic action to protect a young woman who is being assaulted by foreign mercenaries, George is put in an impossible position. Can he show support for Malta’s new strategic ‘allies’, while protecting the people he cares about? Can he be seen to do his job, while preventing an invasion by stealth of the island he loves?

George is forced to draw on all his courage and diplomacy, relying on friends and adversaries old and new, to navigate his way through – The Car Horn Revolution – the sixth thrilling adventure in the bestselling Inspector George Zammit crime series.

The Car Horn Revolution, was published by Hobeck Books in October and is available for purchase here.

And readers have plenty of time to catch up with the series as, after six Inspector George Zammit books, AJ feels it only fair to give the Zammit family a bit of a rest – for now!

About AJ Aberford

AJ Aberford lives with his wife Janet, primarily in Malta, but for the last ten years, they’ve kept their old family home in West Yorkshire, fleeing the heat in Malta, for the rain in Bradford and vice versa! Following the death of their elderly parents, and the fact that their two sons are settled, AJ and his wife are now taking stock of the next part of their lives. AJ started writing initially as a hobby, but now it has taken an increasing importance in both their lives.

AJ does the writing, Janet does a lot of the initial reviews, edits and proofing, along with the invaluable work of AJ’s professional editor, Lynn Curtis. The books are ‘best sellers’ in the main book shops in Malta, but in the UK selling books is difficult, even when you have a publisher behind you. Janet’s also the engine room behind AJ Aberford socials and they are currently trying to understand the algorithms behind Facebook and Amazon Ads. There’s work to do there!

AJ is trying to make the transition from writing for his own pleasure – and hoping someone will like it – to understanding what people want and meeting that demand. His next books will be in a different genre and probably under a different name – but don’t worry, he’ll be letting people know about it in due course!

For further information visit AJ’s website, follow him on Twitter/X @AJAberford and find him on Instagram and Facebook.

On 30th October it was my very great pleasure to attend a wonderful evening hosted by Bloomsbury Raven looking at some of their latest crime fiction. At that event I received a brilliant goody bag and one of the books it contained was Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village by Maureen Johnson with illustrations by Jay Cooper. It’s my pleasure to share my review of Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village today.

Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village was published by Raven Books on 26th September 2024 and is available for purchase in all the usual places including directly from the publisher here.

Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village

Your essential guide to not getting murdered in a quaint English village, where danger lurks around each cobblestoned corner and every bite of scone or sip of tea may be your last.

If you insist on visiting, do yourself a favour and bring along a copy of this guide book. It may just keep you alive

Brought to life with dozens of Edward Gorey-esque drawings and peppered with allusions to classic crime fiction, Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village gives you the tools you need to stay alive.

Repeat after us: don’t look in the pond, keep away from the maze and never trust the vicar.

Good luck. You’re going to need it.

My Review of Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village

A handy guide to staying alive!

Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered is brilliant. I have to comment on the physical properties of the book to begin with as they are so, so good. The cover of the hardback is incredibly robust and weighty (so that it might easily be used as a murder weapon itself). The end papers embody the elements one might expect in a Quaint English Village – from tea cups through cricket bats to croquet sets – all interspersed with threatening skulls! The monochrome illustrations have a feeling of doom just right for the subject matter and each, like the cover, has an iterative use of red, reminiscent of blood, danger and, consequently, murder!

The book is split into two main sections. Firstly, The Village where curtain twitchers, note writers and cake makers might all be getting ready to drown the unsuspecting in a vat of some kind, and secondly, The Manor where tradition and murder go hand in hand. I confess, according to my attempts at the two quiz sections, I’m likely to end up murdered (or murdering) in either setting…

The text itself is hilarious. Anyone who has ever wondered what it must be like to live in a place like Agatha Christie’s St Mary Mead where there seems to be an inordinate number of murders will fully appreciate the tongue-in-cheek humour and the scenarios depicted. And don’t be fooled. There’s an ending to Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered that might take you by surprise…

Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered is witty, and clever. Filled with recognisible stereotypes, poking fun at village life and drawing on all the crime fiction we’ve ever read, Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered would make a superb gift book for a crime fiction lover. It’s enormous fun to read and I thoroughly enjoyed it – though I’ll never look at a vicar in the same way.

About Maureen Johnson

Maureen Johnson is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of several YA novels, including 13 Little Blue Envelopes, Suite Scarlett, The Name of the Star, and Truly Devious. She has also done collaborative works, such as Let It Snow (with John Green and Lauren Myracle), and The Bane Chronicles (with Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan). Her work has appeared in publications such as The New York Times, Buzzfeed, and The Guardian, and she has also served as a scriptwriter for EA Games. She has an MFA in Writing from Columbia University and lives in New York City.

For further information about Maureen, visit her website, follow her on Twitter/X @maureenjohnson and find Maureen on Facebook and Instagram.

About Jay Cooper

Jay Cooper is the illustrator and writer of over 20 books for kids young and old, including the national best-seller Your Guide To Not Getting Murdered In A Quaint English Village—and a contributor to the New York Times #1 best-selling series, The Last Kids on Earth. Jay is also a graphic designer and creative director of theatrical advertising, having crafted art and advertising for more than 100 Broadway shows, including a number of Tony and Pulitzer Prize winners. Most importantly, his dog is named Bradley Cooper Cooper.

For further information about Jay, visit his website, follow him on Twitter/X @jaycooperart and find Jay on Facebook and Instagram.

Having loved A Poet for Every Day of the Year edited by Alllie Esiri (reviewed here) I was delighted to accept a copy of Allie’s latest selection, A Poem for Every Day of Christmas and would like to thank Tory Lyne-Perkis for sending me a copy in return for an honest review. It’s my pleasure to share that review today.

A Poem for Every Day of Christmas is published by Macmillan Children’s Books on 7th November 2024 and is available for purchase through the publisher links here.

A Poem for Every Day of Christmas

A Poem for Every Day of Christmas is a splendid collection of thirty-one poems, compiled by award-winning anthologist Allie Esiri, to take you through the month of December.

Perfect for reading aloud and sharing with friends and family, this book is the ideal companion for the holiday season. It features festive poems and carols by Brian Bilston, Robert Burns, Wendy Cope, T. S. Eliot, Christina Rossetti. E. E. Cummings, Dylan Thomas, Clement Clarke Moore and many more.

The day-to-day format of this fabulous and fun anthology invites readers to make poetry a part of their holiday season.

My Review of A Poem for Every Day of Christmas

A festive anthology of 31 poems. 

As I’m reviewing the hard back version of A Poem for Every Day of Christmas, I must mention the wonderful physical properties that make this little book an ideal gift or stocking filler. The red, gold and green slip cover shouts Christmas and the green, robust covers underneath feel traditional and special. Add in gold end papers and ivy line drawings on every page and this is a very special volume that readers will want to keep and return to year after year. 

Inside the covers, the contents are equally good. I loved the index of poets and the index of first lines as they enable the reader to delve further into poetry, being a catalyst for further reading. I could easily see those first lines being used for the start of a game of consequences, or to stimulate creative writing too. Poems like Edwin Morgan’s The Computer’s First Christmas Card would be great for choral speaking and might stimulate debate about modern issues like AI so that, whilst I think A Poem for Every Day of Christmas is probably best enjoyed just for the sheer exuberance and joy of poetry in the home, I think it has great potential for classrooms too. Different rhyme schemes, poetic forms and styles all add to the possible uses of A Poem for Every Day of Christmas. 

The poets range from traditional ones like Thomas Hardy and Christina Rossetti to more modern writers like Brian Bilston and Lemn Sissay so that not only is the volume a microcosm of literary history, but there really is a poem for every reader regardless of taste or preference. Whilst I read the 31 dated entries in order, albeit earlier than the December dates might suggest, I think it would be equally rewarding to dip in at random like opening a surprise Christmas gift too. This is an advent calendar of poetry that is accessible and engaging. It would make an ideal introduction to poems for reluctant readers too.

This gorgeous little volume of poetry is simply lovely. It is the perfect little gift book for any poetry lover or for anyone for whom you have no idea what to buy. However, I think it would be quite hard to give A Poem for Every Day of Christmas as a gift as you’re going to want to keep it for yourself. The only solution, I feel, is to buy several copies! I really recommend it.

About Allie Esiri

Allie Esiri read Modern and Medieval Languages at Cambridge and is an award-winning curator, described by The Sunday Times as a ‘poetry powerhouse’. Her anthology A Poem for Every Day of the Year was in the best books of the year list in The Times and the Observer. Her previous anthology, A Poem for Every Night of the Year was a best book of the year in The Times and the New Statesman and won the IBW book award. She hosts an annual poetry show at the National Theatre and regular events at major festivals including Hay, Cheltenham and Edinburgh.

For more information, follow Allie on Twitter @AllieEsiri and find her on Instagram. There’s more information on Allie’s website too.

My enormous thanks to Laura Sherlock for sending me a surprise copy of Happy Bloody Christmas by Jo Middleton in return for an honest review. I’m delighted to share that review today.

Happy Bloody Christmas was published by Harper Collins imprint Avon on 24th October 2024 and is available for purchase through the publisher links here.

Happy Bloody Christmas

Anna’s Christmas Eve To Do List:

1. Wrap the kids’ presents​

2. Peel the potatoes ​

3. Get rid of the dead body?!

Hungover and exhausted after her family’s annual party, all Anna Johnson wants for Christmas is to finish her to-do list and finally sit down with the world’s biggest glass of wine.

But when she stumbles across a dead body in her larder, her plans are well and truly buggered.

A mysterious death in her home really is the last thing she needs, but with her judgemental in-laws arriving in less than twenty-four hours, turning her house into a crime scene is not an option. If she’s going to save Christmas, it’s up to Anna to find out what the hell’s gone on. Oh – and figure out what to do with the body before one of the kids finds it.

And you thought burning the turkey was the worst that could happen…

My Review of Happy Bloody Christmas

The night after her Christmas party, Anna has a hangover and a dead body to deal with. 

Happy Bloody Christmas is a really super read. It’s sassy, a bit sweary and stuffed with humour so that I found myself laughing aloud on several occasions. 

Despite the fact that this is a modern cosy crime narrative with the unusual premise of finding a dead Santa in the larder on Christmas Eve, it actually draws on recognisible conventions such as unity of time (Christmas Eve), place (Anna and Oli’s house) and action (solving the murder). This makes it fast paced and wonderfully satisfying to read. I raced through the story because I found it so entertaining.

The story is, frankly, quite bonkers, but that is what makes it so appealing. It’s brilliantly plotted with hints dropped throughout in a clever, diverting and enjoyable read. Of course, I worked out from the beginning that the dead Santa, Colin, was actually not dead at all but had set up the whole thing as a joke to feed his ego. Of course I was completely wrong! I think Happy Bloody Christmas would make a sensational TV programme just perfect for Christmas Eve or Boxing Day watching. 

I loved meeting Anna. At the same time as trying to solve a murder, she has the incredibly relatable problem of trying to make her home perfect for the imminent arrival of her over critical mother-in-law on Christmas Day. Her first person narration feels like she’s chatting to the reader directly, making them her friend every bit as much as Jennie is, so that we’re on her side from the very first moment. Frequently she digresses as her mind wanders to trivial things in a way all of us can recognise. This makes Anne real and human and is actually very funny. In addition, Anna’s interaction with her family is so authentic. I’d defy any parent to read Happy Bloody Christmas and not empathise with Anna’s attempts to keep Lily blissfully unaware of events, and her relationship with Oli is perfectly depicted. He frustrates her at times, is occasionally oblivious to the obvious and yet does his best to support her, making him feel authentic and real. 

Aside from the fun and humour as Anna tries to find out exactly who murdered the Santa in her larder, are some deeper themes too. Once Anna lets go of the desire to be perfect to deflect Pamela’s criticisms, she finds life easier and more pleasurable. This is an important message for anyone hosting the big family Christmas. It’s who is there that matters, not whether the best guest towels are on display or the right confectionery offered. Themes of trust and family, identity and self worth also pepper the text so that it is one of those stories that has the reader agreeing with sentiments throughout. It’s a brilliant story.

I loved Happy Bloody Christmas because it races along, is witty and light and yet has real heart. It gives the reader permission to accept less than perfection in their own lives at the same time as entertaining them fabulously. It made me laugh to the extent I found it uplifting and mood enhancing. But be warned, it might make you want to play a game of Twister – and that can lead to all kinds of complications! 

About Jo Middleton

Jo Middleton lives in Somerset with her daughter, a disobedient golden retriever and three cats, all named after fictional detectives. Jo has a passion for mysteries, loves escape rooms, and longs to capture a cave full of smugglers. She is also a blogger, author, copywriter and one half of the It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere podcast. Playgroups and Prosecco was her first novel.

For further information, follow Jo on Twitter/X @mummyblogger and Instagram.

My enormous thanks to Sophie Calder for sending me a surprise copy of Always and Only You by Fiona Lucas. It’s my pleasure to share my review of Always and Only You today. 

Published by HQ on 7th November 2024, Always and Only You is available for purchase through the publisher links here.

Always and Only You

Could the wrong man be the right one after all?

The heart-wrenching and beautiful new romance from Fiona Lucas, author of Never Forget You.

Erin is about to marry the love of her life. She and Simon have been together for eight years so it feels right that they’re finally tying the knot. It’s been stressful balancing the demands of friends and family – not to mention Simon’s difficult best man, Gil – but Erin couldn’t be happier.

Couldn’t be happier, that is, until she walks down the aisle and finds the wrong man waiting for her. But is the universe playing a cruel trick on Erin, or could it be that her perfect life isn’t quite what she imagined…?

A beautiful, deeply emotional story of love, secrets and second chances. Perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover and Lucy Score.

My Review of Always and Only You

Erin and Simon are getting married.

Always and Only You was not what I was expecting. It has far greater depth and power than I anticipated and it actually took me quite a while to read because it felt intense and I needed to absorb and process the emotions underpinning the narrative.

I didn’t initially like Erin because she is incredibly controlling, in spite of her personality that always wants to please others. However, Fiona Lucas’s skilful writing ensured I quickly began to understand Erin’s complex nature so that I was drawn into her story and ended up desperate for her life to resolve itself positively. She develops throughout the story so that, whilst she learns to understand others like Simon, Gil and her mother, the person she most learns about is herself. As a result, I felt as if I’d been on her journey with her which made for a very satisfying aspect to the story.

As there is a relatively small cast of characters, with Erin at the centre, Always and Only You feels intimate and absorbing. I loathed Simon with a passion from the beginning for his showy personality, but you’ll need to read the book to see if my attitude was justified! Gil reminded me of Austen’s Mr Darcy, being taciturn and unapproachable, but, again, you’ll have to read Always and Only You to discover if he has similar redeeming features. Neither man is a simple person so that there’s a real sensation of authentic human beings in their presentation.

The plot is cleverly structured with some real surprises that add layers of interest. There are moments that take the reader aback, but the real strength in the story is the engaging exploration of various truths that runs beneath all the action. As a result, Always and Only You gets under the reader’s skin and has an emotional impact that is surprisingly affecting. 

Other themes are equally mature and interesting. There’s a wonderful romantic aspect to melt even the hardest heart, but alongside it are deeper considerations. Grief and guilt, self-delusion and illness, family and friendship – all these elements find their place in a convincing, entertaining and mature narrative. 

Always and Only You is certainly a love story, but it is so much more besides and actually very difficult to review without spoiling the read for others. I thought it was a fabulous story. 

About Fiona Lucas 

Fiona Lucas is an award-winning author of contemporary women’s fiction. The Last Goodbye was her first novel written under this name, but she’s been writing heart-warming love stories and feel-good women’s fiction as Fiona Harper for more than a decade. During her career, she’s won numerous awards, including a Romantic Novel Award in 2018, and chalked up a no.1 Kindle bestseller. 

For further information, visit Fiona’s website, or find her on Twitter/X @fionalucasbooks and Instagram. 

I can’t believe it’s two years since I reviewed Cathy Bramley’s Merrily Ever After for My Weekly magazine online in a post you’ll find here. This time I’m back with another My Weekly review of Cathy’s latest book A Merry Little Christmas.

A Merry Little Christmas was published by Orion on 10th October 2024 and is available for purchase through the publisher links here.

A Merry Little Christmas

This Christmas indulge in some me-time and enjoy this uplifting and heart-warming story from Sunday Times bestseller Cathy Bramley. Full of romance, laughter and family drama, A Merry Little Christmas is the perfect book to curl up with this festive season.

In the snowy market town of Wetherly, Merry is about to take on her biggest project yet – the arrival of a new baby. She has always dreamed of being a mother, since losing her mum at a young age. Everyone is so excited, so why is Merry feeling terrified? And why is she struggling to open up to business partner and best friend Nell, whose help she needs at their thriving candle shop more than ever?

What Nell desperately wants for Christmas is a baby with husband Olek. But when she uncovers a shocking truth about Olek’s past, dreams of a family are turned upside down. Nell feels she has no-one to turn to, as Merry is wrapped up in her own plans for the new baby.

Tensions run high as Christmas approaches, and Merry and Nell’s friendship reaches breaking point. As long-held secrets finally come to light, can Nell and Merry save the most precious gift of all – their friendship?

My Review of A Merry Little Christmas

My full review of A Merry Little Christmas can be found on the My Weekly website here.

However, here I can say that A Merry Little Christmas is a deeply emotional exploration of family set against a backdrop of Christmas that both moves the reader and makes them reassess what is important in their own lives. It’s not to be missed.

Do visit My Weekly to read my full review here.

About Cathy Bramley

Cathy Bramley is the Sunday Times Top Ten best-selling author of The Lemon Tree Cafe. Her other romantic comedies include Ivy Lane, Appleby Farm, Wickham Hall, Conditional Love, The Plumberry School of Comfort Food and White Lies and Wishes. She lives in a Nottinghamshire village with her family and a dog. Cathy turned to writing after spending eighteen years running her own marketing agency. She has been always an avid reader, never without a book on the go and now thinks she may have found her dream job! Cathy loves to hear from her readers. Her next book, Somewhere Only We Know will be out in June 2025.

For more information about Cathy , visit her website or follow her on Twitter/X @CathyBramley, and on Facebook and Instagram.

I love reading children’s books – possibly because I was quite a late independent reader myself and am making up for lost time, so when Stephanie Bretherton got in touch to ask if I’d like to see a copy of Figgles and Flo: The Elephant in the Room by Antonia Blackmore and illustrated by Sarah P Sharpe, written in support of the charity Families in Grief, I jumped at the chance. I’m so glad I did. It’s my pleasure to share my review of Figgles and Flo today.

Figgles and Flo: The Elephant in the Room was published by Breakthrough Books on 17th October 2024 and is available for purchase here.

Figgles and Flo: The Elephant in the Room

Meet Figgles, a very sad elephant, and Flo, a very wise old dog.

Sad times can be so hard to go through and even harder to understand. That’s when we need a bit of extra help. In this touching story from Families in Grief, lonely Figgles learns to remember the good times with the people he has loved, and to look forward to new possibilities, through the kindness of his friend Flo.

Join two irresistible characters as they explore the journey of healing and get ready to make new memories.

My Review of Figgles and Flo: The Elephant in the Room

Figgles the toy elephant is lonely and upset because Child has grown up and forgotten all about him.

I could not have loved Figgles and Flo more, even if it did reduce me to a snivelling wreck. The empathy, love and understanding between its pages mean that it feels perfect for anyone, especially a child, who is grieving the loss of a loved one. Death is not mentioned, but the story perfect for anyone who feels a loss, whether that’s through death or physical and emotional distance. Very much part of the ‘it’s OK not to be OK movement’ Figgles and Flo teaches all of us that grief and loss are natural.

I might be some half a century or more older than the target audience, but reading this story has enabled me to deal with my own grief and feels cathartic and healing. Through Flo’s support for Figgles and her helpful suggestions for remembering someone we love, children can learn to embrace their own feelings and to deal with them. I loved the concept that tears are memories of those we miss.  I’d say Figgles and Flo is absolutely essential for any home or establishment where children are present, because it is a lovely, entertaining story but more importantly, enables conversations to be had about grief and sadness in a sensitive and accessible story. It also shows children how a little kindness towards someone else can have a huge impact.

Once Figgles has some tools to help manage his feelings, there is a sense of uplifting hope and positivity as he and Flo head off for new adventures so that the story ends cheerfully.

I must mention too, the wonderful illustrations in Figgles and Flo. They are naïve in style so that they appeal to young children and yet the facial expressions of the two toys convey a wide range of emotions that older readers will also appreciate. There’s also a sense of ownership with the ability for a child to inscribe their name at the beginning as well as some line illustrations for colouring at the end of the book which help to embed the characters and story.

Figgles and Flo is a beautiful, helpful and emotional story filled with understanding and hope for any child (of any age) dealing with grief. Just wonderful. It’s one of my books of the year!

My grateful thanks to Kelly Pike and to Cathy Hayward for sending me a copy of The Secret of the Brighton House in return for an honest review. I’m delighted to share that review today.

Published by Lake Union on 1st November 2024, The Secret of the Brighton House is available for pre-order here.

The Secret of the Brighton House

Her family lied to protect her. Will the truth tear them apart?

Joanne’s always been told her mother died in childbirth, but she never questioned her dad’s love. When unpacking a box of her own old baby clothes, Joanne accidentally discovers a photo of her birth mum holding a newborn, and realises she’s been lied to.

As Joanne begins to dig into the past, she uncovers layers of secrets that threaten to destroy the very family she holds dear. What really happened to her mum? What could be so devastating that her dad has kept it from her for her whole life—and is she ready to find out?

My Review of The Secret of the Brighton House

Joanne’s pregnancy prompts her to look at her own past.

What an absorbing and affecting read. The Secret of the Brighton House works on many levels. Firstly it is an exploration of marriage as Joanne and Alex navigate their final IVF chance at having a child. I loved the way Alex’s perspective as a prospective father is given. Too often, if understandably, the focus on parenthood is given to women and here we are reminded that men are impacted too. I thought Cathy Hayward’s ability to show how those who do really love one another can find themselves drifting apart and losing sight of who they really are in a relationship as they focus on one event and forget their own dreams and desires, was thoroughly convincing. I was desperate for Joanne and Alex to find their way back to one another and to become successful parents happy in their own skin because Cathy Hayward made me care about them. 

Secondly, alongside the marriage aspect is the consideration of who Joanne’s Mum is – her birth mother Grace or Lou, the woman who brought her up. There’s a real maturity in how this thread is woven into the story with the potential for Joanne’s whole personality and future to be changed. I loved the fascinating way Mike’s true personality is peeled back layer by layer too.

In addition, is the mystery at the heart of The Secret of the Brighton House. It’s not possible to say too much for fear of revealing spoilers, but as Joanne uncovers the 1970s events in Brighton there’s not just an entertaining plot, but a real sense of social history too.

But it is Grace who drives the narrative and through whom the most profound part of the story is conveyed. Her terrible mental health experiences feel completely convincing. She’s the kind of character whom the reader continues to think about long after the book is read. I genuinely think The Secret of the Brighton House has the power to change attitudes towards mental health.

The Secret of the Brighton House is a highly affecting, realistic and sensitively written exploration of motherhood in various forms. It considers severe mental illness and the depth of connection in families beyond the usual units. I thought it was not just very interesting, but that it was actually a highly important book because it brings difficult topics out into the open in an honest and caring manner. I recommend it most highly.

About Cathy Hayward

Cathy Hayward is a writer and bookseller based in Brighton, on the south coast of England.

Cathy trained and worked as a journalist for many years before moving into the world of PR. In 2022, after having spent a lifetime pottering around bookshops, she bought Kemptown Bookshop in Brighton and has worked to create a community which supports local authors and aspiring writers. In 2024, Cathy took on the management of The Creative Writing Programme, the leading independent centre for creative writing teaching in the south-east of England, which is now based at the bookshop.

When she’s not writing (or reading), Cathy loves pottering in other people’s bookshops, going to the theatre and drinking wine. She lives with her three children and two rescue cats.

For further information, visit Cathy’s website, follow her on Twitter/X @cathyhayward7 or find Cathy on Instagram and on Facebook.

My huge thanks to Georgia Hester at Harper Collins for sending me a copy of Steel Girls in the Blitz by Michelle Rawlins in return for an honest review. It’s my absolute pleasure to share that review today.

Steel Girls in the Blitz is published by HQ on 7th November 2024 and is available for pre-order through the publisher links here.

Steel Girls in the Blitz

In December 1940, the Blitz has reached Sheffield, but Steel Girl Hattie is more concerned about the war brewing at home between her parents. Desperate to help her mother in any way she can, will Hattie get through with the help of her factory sisters?

Betty is overjoyed to learn that her fiancé will be coming home to complete his RAF training. But when the Blitz begins, he may be in greater danger than ever.

Young Patty has never been prouder of her sweetheart, Archie, than in his role as an Air Raid Warden. But having seen the true cost of war, is he struggling more than Patty could ever imagine?

And as the bombs begin to fall, with heartbreak on the horizon, will the Steel Girls find shelter in each other?

My Review of Steel Girls in the Blitz

World War Two has arrived in Sheffield.

I thoroughly enjoyed Steel Girls in the Blitz and although it is part of a series I never felt at a disadvantage at not having read all the other books. Any backstory was woven into this narrative perfectly and each individual was so clearly depicted that the book can be read as a standalone perfectly well. 

The plot is cleverly constructed. With everything revolving around the lynchpins of Hattie, Betty and Patty there’s a confident balance of events making Steel Girls in the Blitz feel effortless to read. That isn’t to say it is simplistic, but more that the natural dialogue, the authentic historical detail and the realistic occurrences make it flow beautifully. Michelle Rawlins is an author who understands the art of storytelling. Much of the story is quiet and relatable, with friendships developing, ordinary lives going ahead, and the private concerns of the characters feeling identifiable and true. If it doesn’t sound ridiculous, reading Steel Girls in the Blitz felt a bit like getting home from a very trying day, putting up my aching feet and having the perfect cup of tea – in the same way characters reach for the teapot at trying times.

However, the sense of quiet is merely the calm before the storm and there are moments of peril, drama and pulse elevating excitement too. These elements feel all the more heightened when contrasted with the ordinary, daily lives of the women. The effect is that Steel Girls in the Blitz feels akin to a Pathé news reel as its realism shines through.

I loved getting to know more about the characters, and especially the way those like Dolly have a stoic, caring and determined nature. My favourite character was Archie. He epitomises just how hard the war was on those who’d seen action or who were faced with unspeakable sights. His mental health suffers and through him the reader is helped to understand the other characters through the way they respond to him. 

In fact, whilst Steel Girls in the Blitz is entertaining and warm, it is also insightful. Michelle Rawlins explores domestic violence, grief and loss, family and friendship, guilt and forgiveness, and the full range of emotions from deep seated grief to sheer joy, making it a narrative that keeps the reader engaged and caring about those between its pages. I confess I may have shed a small tear on occasion as I read. 

Steel Girls in the Blitz is a super historical saga filled with authentic detail and engaging characters. It’s a must read narrative for those who love the genre. 

About Michelle Rawlins

After working as a journalist for 25 years, writing real life stories, for the women’s magazines and national newspapers, Michelle began teaching at the University of Sheffield.

Around the same time, she finished writing Women of Steel, after spending two years researching this incredible generation. This research has become a series of historical fiction books on this remarkable band of women, who sacrificed so much, by taking highly dangerous and physically relentless roles in the Sheffield steel factories, during WW2, to ‘do their bit’.

When she’s not teaching or writing, Michelle spends her time with her children and cavapoo.

For further information, visit Michelle’s website, follow her on Twitter/X @Mrawlins1974 and find Michelle on Instagram.