You all know that I’m a huge fan of Milly Johnson – and I’m delighted that she’s become a true personal friend over the years. 

To celebrate Milly’s latest book, Let The Bells Ring Out which I reviewed here, I’m thrilled to have a signed hardback copy to give away today. It was my pleasure to take a copy of Let The Bells Ring Out to Molecey Mill Frost Fair on Saturday where Milly signed the book for me.

As soon as she knew I was going to run a giveaway for it, Milly immediately included a Let The Bells Ring Out bookmark, planner and pen for me to pass on too – just showing what a lovely lady she is!

For your chance to win this smashing bundle of Milly Johnson Let The Bells Ring Out goodies either for yourself or a wonderful gift for someone else, all you need to do is comment on this blog post saying why you’d like to win. Sadly this has to be UK only because of postage costs. 

So drop me a comment below – or if that doesn’t work for you (I know I sometimes have a problem leaving comments) just comment on one of my socials posts about the giveaway and I’ll add you in.

The giveaway closes at 11.59 PM on Friday 14th November 2025 and the winner will be selected at random on Saturday 15th November 2025. I will need a UK postal address to send your prize. Please be aware that at no point would I ask for any kind of payment as there are always scammers who try to dupe people. Good luck!

In case you’ve been living under a rock, here’s what Let The Bells Ring Out is all about:

Let The Bells Ring Out

Seven people, four days and a snowy Christmas on board a luxury sleeper train. This festive season getting away from it all takes on a new meaning…

The Yorkshire Belle is a glamorous steam train all decked out for an escapist festive getaway. It is not supposed to be where a group of people, all trying to get to their destinations for the holidays, will spend their Christmas.

Seven people, each with their own hopes and dreams, secrets and sorrows, board the train as strangers, but as the snow keeps falling and they realise they are going nowhere fast, they are forced to slow down and embrace the present.

This Christmas on board the Yorkshire Belle, will the friendships they make change their lives forever?

Let The Bells Ring Out was published by Simon and Schuster on 23rd October 2025 and is available for purchase through the links here.

About Milly Johnson

Milly Johnson was born, raised and still lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She is the author of 23 novels, 4 short story ebooks, a book of poetry and a Quick Reads Novella (The Little Dreams of Lara Cliffe) and was an erstwhile leading copywriter for the greetings card industry. She is also a poet, a professional joke-writer, a newspaper columnist and a seasoned after dinner speaker.

She won the RoNA for Best Romantic Comedy Novel of 2014 and 2016, the Yorkshire Society award for Arts and Culture 2015, the Romantic Novelist Association Outstanding Achievement award in 2020, the Goldsboro Books Contemporary Romantic Novel Award in 2021 and the Richard Whiteley Award for Inspiration to the County of Yorkshire in 2022.

She writes about love, life, friendships and the importance of community spirit. Her books champion women, their strength and resilience and celebrate her beloved Yorkshire.

Her 23rd novel Let the Bells Ring Out is available now.

You can follow Milly on Twitter/X @millyjohnson and Facebook, or you can visit her website for more information. You’ll also find Milly on Instagram.

My enormous thanks to Peter Wiholm for sending me a copy of his children’s book Grumpy Gnome all the way from Canada. Grumpy Gnome is illustrated by Alejandro Segura Baron and it’s my pleasure to share my review today. 

Grumpy Gnome was published on 15th October 2025 and is available for purchase here. 

Grumpy Gnome

The old gnome was angry with the ducks next door. They had dragged him out of his hundred-year retirement to help a father and daughter in trouble. Why would the gnome care about silly humans, especially ones who had made a big mess at the beloved farm where he used to work? Surely there was nothing about these well-meaning but clumsy people that could soften his prickly mood?

Grumpy Gnome is a humorous, exciting and cozy story about rediscovering joy thought to be long gone, parental love, and the ways of the old world clashing with the new.

My Review of Grumpy Gnome

The gnome is feeling bad tempered. 

Grumpy Gnome is brilliant. It’s so luxuriously presented with a robust, glossy cover and equally attractive slip cover that it would make an ideal gift book. 

The book size is perfect for sharing with an individual child or in a group situation. The illustrations are wonderful, with a smashing balance between modernity and nostalgia in style. I loved the subdued colour palette that represented the emotions of the story really effectively. It also appealed that there is a single parent and mixed race child so that Grumpy Gnome feels inclusive. In addition, there’s a very good balance of text to image so that young emergent readers are not daunted and more confident ones have enough text to satisfy them. The language is mature so that vocabulary is increased, and it is enhanced by the images that help develop understanding and context. 

The Grumpy Gnome himself is inspired. He has lost touch with his old life and is obviously lonely and there’s a very important message in the story that shows children how being kind and helpful towards others actually brings happiness to the person (or gnome) doing so. Consequently, Grumpy Gnome affords the opportunity for adults and children to discuss emotions in a non-threatening environment. Indeed, it felt quite emotional that the little girl seems wiser than her father and her belief in magical things like the gnome gives a sensation of warmth, happiness and hope to readers of any age. 

I loved the recalcitrant sheep and the insistent ducks too, because they help bring the narrative to life, adding humour that children will love. 

I thought that Grumpy Gnome has all the high quality attributes of traditional tales, containing morals, but within a modern setting so that it slots into the canon of children’s books perfectly without preaching or forcing adult preferences onto children. It’s a lovely story and children will thoroughly enjoy reading it – and what adult doesn’t need a bit of magic in their lives? 

About Peter Wiholm 

Peter has written articles, short stories, screenplays and reviews for a wide variety of publications, and his love of storytelling is also demonstrated in his short films, documentaries, music videos and photos. He lives in Vancouver, Canada with his wife and daughter. Grumpy Gnome is his first children’s picture book.

You can find Peter on Instagram.

About Alejandro Segura Baron

Alejandro has worked as an illustrator and graphic designer for multiple publishing houses and magazines. He has created comics, book illustrations, posters and more. Grumpy Gnome is the second children’s picture book he has illustrated, after El Castillo de los Siete Ojos. He lives in Barcelona, Spain with his wife and son.

I’m a huge fan of children’s fiction – possibly because my awful sight meant I was such a late reader myself and feel I missed out a little bit as a child. Consequently I was delighted when Julia Blackburn sent me a copy of her middle grade book The Songbird Army in exchange for an honest review. It’s my pleasure to share that review today.

The Songbird Army was published on 21st September and is available for purchase here. 

The Songbird Army 

Rube the robin would much rather sing than lead. But when a gang of bullying magpies threatens the nests of his choir, Rube discovers that being the star of the garden isn’t enough.

The Songbird Choir needs a true leader, and Rube must leave the safety of his riverside home to rally allies from the wild woods beyond. Along the way, he teams up with Hula, a blind bullfinch, Phil, a dependable song thrush, and Alcedo, a lightning-fast kingfisher, facing dangers, uncovering unexpected friendships, and discovering courage he never knew he had.

As the magpies’ raid approaches, Rube must lead the garden birds in a daring stand to protect their nests. Will a choir of small voices be enough to defeat a gang of bullies, or will the garden fall silent forever?

The Songbird Army is a lower middle-grade adventure full of song, courage, and unlikely friendships. Perfect for fans of animal adventures, stories of bravery, and nature-inspired middle-grade fiction.

With a blind bullfinch, a brave thrush, and an outcast crow, Rube must discover that true courage isn’t about having the loudest voice—it’s about knowing when to listen, when to lead, and when to trust that even the smallest allies can make the biggest difference.

Sometimes the greatest battles are won not by the strongest, but by those brave enough to sing together.

My Review of The Songbird Army

A gang of menacing magpies is threatening the other birds.

Whilst it is not essential to the engagement of The Songbird Army, I thought the presentation of the text was inspired because there’s a double line spacing which gives plenty of white space that doesn’t daunt more reluctant young readers. It also means that those tracing text with their finger to assist their reading have the space to do so with ease. In addition, (and at the risk of appearing sexist) the danger, tactics and final battle will appeal particularly to traditional boys who would rather be active than reading so that there’s a real educational benefit in the book. Having chapter headers with notes from the Bird Boy also appeals to male readers.

The Bird Boy’s notes and the occasional little bird illustrations (which are simply gorgeous) also draw in young readers to this fast paced narrative and provide ample opportunity for children to research more about the types of birds.

What I really appreciated is the fact that Julia Blackburn does not patronise young readers in The Songbird Army. The vocabulary is varied and occasionally challenging and her presentation of the potential harshness of life for birds – and for children by analogy – is realistic and relatable. There’s actually quite a lot of violence, but it is handled appropriately. It’s such a helpful concept to have a variety of personalities amongst the birds as this stimulates appreciation of people too. Hula, for example, is brave and strong, being physically large, but he also lacks confidence so that children are encouraged to look beyond external appearance. I also thought Gunman’s development illustrated how we can change if we learn to understand others, which is an important message. There’s a super sense of inclusion too as birds who are physically different, disabled or friendless are given real status.

There’s an engaging and entertaining story in The Songbird Army with the various adventures the birds have as they work to prepare themselves against the violent threat from the magpies, but it is the themes of the story where the greatest success lies.  Julia Blackburn explores friendship and courage, loyalty, loneliness, fear and determination for example. There’s also a cathartic moment of grief over Fruggie that I found quite moving and this would be a perfect way to introduce death and loss in a non-threatening manner to children. 

More aggressive than I had anticipated, I think The Songbird Army is better suited to 9-10 year old readers than younger ones. It can be read on many levels so that it would be highly useful in a classroom situation, as well as being an engaging narrative for children to experience independently. 

About Julia Blackburn

 

Julia Blackburn is a children’s author, nature lover, and former BBC Berkshire book reviewer. Her debut middle grade novel, A Mystery at Whisper Lake — longlisted for the Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition — launches alongside her younger chapter book, The Songbird Army. Both celebrate the healing power of nature and the wild creatures that help restore balance to the world.

She co-authored the cozy mystery Riverside Lane (Momentum Press, 2019), which sold over 5,000 copies, before turning her focus to children’s fiction. A lifelong lover of the natural world, Julia writes from her desk with her loyal dog, Muttley, curled beneath her chair, and collaborates with her daughter Louisa, who illustrates all her books.

Together, they bring stories of wonder, courage, and the natural world to life for children everywhere.

For further information visit Julia’s website and find Julia on Facebook, Bluesky and Instagram. 

I’m a huge fan of Alice Jolly’s wonderful and versatile writing and you’ll find my reviews of some of her books here. 

When I discovered she has a new book out I simply had to invite Alice onto Linda’s Book Bag to discover more. 

Let’s see what Alice told me:

Staying in with Alice Jolly

I’m thrilled to welcome you to Linda’s Book Bag Alice. I know I already know, but tell me, which book have you brought along and why have you chosen it?

I have brought along my new novel which is called The Matchbox Girl.

And it’s out today – happy publication day! What is The Matchbox Girl about?

It is an historical novel which is based on real life events. At the centre of my novel is the real Dr Asperger who worked in The Vienna Children’s Hospital starting in the 1930s. When Asperger’s work was rediscovered in the 1980s, he was hailed as ‘the father of neurodiversity’ but he was also rumoured to have collaborated with the Nazis. The story of Asperger and his colleagues is told through the eyes of a fictional 12-year-old girl called Adelheid Brunner who is obsessed by collecting matchboxes. She sometimes comments on the events unfolding around her with great accuracy but, like many in 1930s and 1940s Vienna, she also often fails to see what is really happening. Increasingly, she finds herself caught up in a deadly game whose rules she cannot understand. 

That sounds an incredible tale Alice. I had wondered why you’d used The Matchbox Girl and why the book had that cover. Can you tell me a little more?

I know that Bloomsbury thought long and hard about the cover and I think that all their work has really paid off. For me, the cover really encapsulates the dual nature of the book. On the one hand, the book is about eugenics in the Second World War but because the book is being told by a bright and quirky young girl, it reads rather like a children’s adventure story. That is a deliberate choice.

And difficult to achieve I imagine. Why did you decide on that style?

I think we can write about dark issues but we don’t have to do it in a dark style. The figure of the child on the book is dashing through a confusing nighttime landscape of steps which lead nowhere. Up above are the planes which encapsulates the Second World War. The cover also hints at the design of 1930s matchboxes – and that references Adelheid’s dream of collecting 1000 matchboxes. I love that the cover is capturing so many aspects of what I have written.

How brilliant. So, what can we expect from an evening in with The Matchbox Girl?

At the heart of my book is a truly fascinating – but also very difficult – story. I get tired of Second World War books where there are goodies and baddies. The reality of what happens in war is so much more complicated. 

I am trying to tell the story of a person (Asperger) who was not a hero. I wanted to unpick why people don’t resist. For me, this is very current. I don’t like books which deal in cheap judgements. I want the reader to ask themselves – if I was in this situation, would I have done any better? 

Most definitely. I often wonder how I might behave in such circumstances. I’d like to believe I would always behave morally but…

I also want them to enjoy the character of Adelheid. She really wants to understand how the world works but, sadly, she is living in a world which just doesn’t make sense. Happily, she is surrounded by the staff of the Hospital who appreciate her and want to keep her safe.

I love the sound of The Matchbox Girl. Given the themes of the book, what else have you bought along?

I have bought along one of the secondary characters in my book. I would really love to show you a photograph of her but I have not been able to find one. That in itself is significant.

More evidence of history than herstory perhaps?

Sister Viktorine Zak was a nurse and in Austria they keep records relating to doctors but not to nurses. (It would be the same in many countries.) As I was researching my book, it became clear to me that some of the secondary characters in this story are at least as interesting as Asperger himself. Sister Viktorine was a woman of enormous compassion and skill. Asperger described her as ‘a genius.’ She was entirely central to the work which led to the first autism diagnoses but she has been forgotten. I am so happy that my book puts her back where she belongs – right at the centre of the pioneering work which was going on in Austria before the annexation. 

And Sister Viktorine Zak is most welcome. I fear that in today’s world, the role of, and impact on women, in such situations is still far too under-represented so I’m delighted she’s here, especially as my niece wasn’t diagnosed as autistic until she was almost 40.

Thank you so much for staying in with me Alice, to chat about The Matchbox Girl. I think it sounds an amazing book and I cannot wait to read it. Let me give readers a few more details:

The Matchbox Girl

Adelheid Brunner does not speak. She writes and draws instead and her ambition is to own one thousand matchboxes. Her grandmother cannot make sense of this, but Adelheid will stop at nothing to achieve her dream. She makes herself invisible, hiding in cupboards with her pet rat, Franz Joseph, listening in on conversations she can’t fully comprehend.

Then she meets Dr Asperger, a man who lets children play all day and who recognises the importance of matchboxes. He invites Adelheid to come and live at the Vienna paediatric clinic, where she and other children like herself will live under observation.

But the date is 1938 and the place is Vienna – a city of political instability, a place of increasing fear and violence. When the Nazis march into the city, a new world is created and difficult choices must be made.

Why are the clinic’s children disappearing, and where do they go? Adelheid starts to suspect that some of Dr Asperger’s games are played for the highest stakes. In order to survive, she must play a game whose rules she cannot yet understand.

Triumphant and tragic, soulful and spirited, The Matchbox Girl is a burningly brilliant book – that brings the stories of a generation of lost children into the light.

The Matchbox Girl is published by Bloomsbury today, 6th November 2025, and is available for purchase through the links here. 

About Alice Jolly

Alice Jolly is a novelist and playwright. Her writing has been awarded the PEN/Ackerley Prize, an O Henry Prize and the V. S. Pritchett Memorial Prize, and been longlisted for Ondaatje Prize and the Rathbones Folio Prize. She teaches on the Creative Writing Masters at Oxford University. 

For further information, visit Alice’s website, or follow her on X @JollyAlice and Instagram.

Although I have yet to meet lovely Freya North in real life, she feels like a true friend as I’ve been reading her books for almost 30 years. When I was working in Jersey back in 2011, I distinctly remember reading Chances and leaving my copy for a fellow hotel resident at breakfast as we’d been chatting at dinner the evening before about how much we loved Freya’s writing. 

I first began blogging in 2015 and Freya’s The Way Back Home was one of the earliest reviews I posted too with The Turning Point one of my books of the year that first year. Add in the fact that her The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne was one of my books of the year last year, and you’ll see why I asked Freya to stay in with me to chat about her latest book today.

Let’s see what Freya has in store for us next:

Staying in with Freya North

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Freya and thank you for agreeing to stay in with me. Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

 

Well, I’ve chosen a short novel, Christmas at Flora’s House for a number of reasons. First and foremost, when I finish writing a book I genuinely miss the characters with whom I have hung out for all that time whilst writing their stories – so I really want to see them again.

I want to meet them for the first time! I understand that Christmas at Flora’s House is out tomorrow, 6th November 2025, so happy publication day for tomorrow!

Secondly, without sounding boasty-big-boots, I’m just really proud of this book. It is the first in a series of four novellas which I am independently publishing – and it hasn’t been so much a learning curve as a sheer rockface to grapple up!

Goodness – that’s a bit of a departure. I think new authors will be intrigued that such an established one like you had such a steep learning experience in self-publishing. How exciting! And it’s not boasty at all – after almost three decades of reading and loving your books I can vouch for them being wonderful.

Thanks Linda. But mostly, I just loved the setting of Harris in the Outer Hebrides. For me setting is never a backdrop, it is always a leading character in my stories. 

If that is Harris Freya, I need to get there as soon as I can! What can we expect from an evening in with Christmas at Flora’s House?  

This book will take you on a gentle adventure to one of the most remote parts of the UK so you can experience the beauty and wildness of deep winter there.

It will also take you on an emotional journey with Maggie and Roger from Cheshire – a long married couple who are spending their very first Christmas away from home. Maggie, in her mid 60s, strikes up an unlikely friendship with Shona who is in her early twenties and works in the shop. I love writing cross-generational stories. I had a little cry when I wrote parts of this story.

Now that’s my kind of read. I love a cathartic cry when I’m reading. I have a feeling I’m going to adore Christmas at Flora’s House.

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

Well, goodness me, you cannot read Christmas at Flora’s House without a Tunnocks teacake! Now, I don’t know about you, but I like to try and prise off the chocolate shell and then delight in the gooey fluff inside. I’ll probably have two or three but make a single ball out of the wrappers so that it looks like I’ve had just the one…! 

Er, is there any other way to eat them?

I will also indulge in a wee snifter of a really peaty single malt – my Dad and I love sharing a whisky… my Dad always calls it his ‘medicine’ so imagine my delight to find that Roger, in Christmas at Flora’s House also calls it his medicine too! 

I’ll join you in a medicine – but I’ll make mine a Bailey’s.

I’ll be wearing my favourite cosies: a hooded fleece, trackie bottoms and snuggly socks. If you expected me to be in high heels and festive sparkles, I’m sorry to disappoint! But just wait to see what the character Maggie wears on Christmas Day…

I can’t wait! I’m so looking forward to meeting Maggie as I have a feeling I’m going to love her. 

Thank you so much for staying in with me to chat about Christmas at Flora’s House Freya. Grab the Tunnocks, pour out our ‘medicine’ and I’ll give readers a few more details about the book:

Christmas at Flora’s House 

On the windswept dunes of the Isle of Harris in the wild and beautiful Outer Hebrides of Scotland, is a small white house with a big history. These days, Flora’s House is a holiday home – the perfect base for visitors from far and wide to explore the stunning and often dramatic landscape.

Arriving with one suitcase for clothes and another for their own decorations, retired couple Maggie and Roger have booked Flora’s House for the festive season. It’s their first trip to the island and their first Christmas away from home – but where does Roger disappear to on his long walks? And why is Maggie so taken with one particular member of staff at the local shop?

Christmas is coming: a time for family and togetherness, for joy and forgiveness. Out there, high on the hills and deep in the heather, across the shimmering lochs and hidden in the waves, this Christmas will soon become unlike any Maggie and Roger have had before.

Christmas at Flora’s House is available for purchase in the usual places, but LIMITED EDITION COPIES – each personally signed at Freya’s kitchen table – are available directly from Freya here. 

The Book Lover’s Journal

In addition, Freya also created and edits The Book Lover’s Journal – a luxury, hardback desk diary and journal for bookworms, brimming with original content from over twenty bestselling authors with a donation made to BookTrust for every copy sold. I love my copies and you can get your 2026 copy here. 

About Freya North

Freya North’s novels explore the emotions and complexities of everyday relationships and families. First published in 1996 with her ground-breaking debut Sally, Freya has written 15 further bestsellers including the highly acclaimed Little Wing and The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne. Translated into many languages, Freya won the Romantic Novel of the Year award for Pillow Talk and has been short-listed for others. A sense of place is central to Freya’s writing. Never a backdrop, always a leading character, locations featured in her novels include New England, France, British Columbia, North Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Norfolk, Freya’s own county of Hertfordshire and of course the Outer Hebrides.

Freya holds degrees in History of Art from the University of Manchester and the Courtauld Institute, London. She lives on a small farm in Hertfordshire with her dogs, horses and sheep. She enjoys ceramic classes and road cycling and loves to connect with her readers.

For further information, visit Freya’s website, follow her on X @freya_north or find Freya on Instagram and Facebook.

I can’t believe it was back in 2019 when I first met Melanie Blake at the launch of her debut novel The Thunder Girls (reviewed here). I am delighted to have been invited to participate in the blog tour for her latest book Vengeful Women which is the latest part of Melanie’s Falcon Bay series. My enormous thanks to Divia at Tiger Team Creative for inviting me to take part. It’s my pleasure not only to share my review of Vengeful Women, but to share a special message for her readers from Melanie.

Published on 6th November 2025, Vengeful Women is available for purchase here. 

Vengeful Women

Power. Passion. Revenge. Nothing is off-limits in Falcon Bay.

From Sunday Times bestselling author Melanie Blake comes a gripping new chapter in the Falcon Bay series – where showbiz glamour collides with dark secrets, and women who’ve lost everything are ready to fight back.

On a private island off the coast of England, five powerful women sit in jail, awaiting trial for manslaughter: a world-famous soap star, an ambitious talent agent, a ruthless producer, a brilliant screenwriter and a cougar casting director.

The man who put them there, their long-term nemesis Jake Monroe, is cashing in – turning the island they once ruled into a twisted theme park crowned by the world’s tallest skyscraper. While the women plot revenge, old secrets that could change everything begin to surface.

The glossy veneer of their showbiz world was shattered when they were incarcerated and the rot beneath the red carpets and studio lights is beginning to show… and meanwhile, a journalist chasing the truth behind an American serial killer is uncovering stories that could destroy everything – and everyone.

As the body count climbs and the women’s trial date looms, Jake’s empire teeters. Because one thing is certain. Hell has no fury… like vengeful women.

A Message from Melanie Blake

What is one message you want to give your readers?

Thank you for loving my world of make believe… which isn’t really that made up! Without you I wouldn’t be here, and I will never forget that. xx

My Review of Vengeful Women

The women of Falcon Bay are in trouble! 

Is Vengeful Women Booker Prize winning literature? Definitely not. Is Vengeful Women brilliant entertainment brimming with modernity, intrigue and quite a lot of sex? Absolutely yes! This is a story to grab the reader from the very first page and keep them reading open-mouthed throughout.

Although this is the third book in the series, there’s absolutely no need to have read Ruthless Women and Guilty Women (although I strongly suggest you do for the greatest enjoyment) because Melanie Blake weaves in character back stories with aplomb so that how they have come to be where they are in Vengeful Women is clearly explained and yet still tantalising. There’s even a cast list of ‘Players’ to help out  – and let me tell you, never have characters been more aptly defined. There are some real players here! 

Indeed, whilst there’s quite a cast of characters, each person is distinct and clearly presented. I loved the way the reader is drip fed character intentions and real emotions through the authorial voice in ways that make the reader feel almost part of the action. And these characters are brilliantly untrustworthy so that whilst the reader thinks they have a real handle on what’s happening, there are twists and shocks galore. I’d love to see Vengeful Women – in fact the entire series – as a television drama. Viewers would be hooked.

And what action there is! The plot of Vengeful Women simply races along. There’s scheming, murder, manipulation and so many twists and turns that it leaves the reader breathless. I’d even go so far as to say that this narrative is totally audacious. The author does not pull her punches and there’s so much action of all kinds that it left me reeling. 

As well as characters to root for (as well as those like Jake to hate) and the action packed story, I loved the insight into the duplicitous, Machiavellian world of show business, journalism and media. Melanie Blake makes it simultaneously abhorrent and mesmerising so that it’s impossible not to get wrapped up in the narrative. This might be a story that’s an Adrenalin filled fast paced romp, but there are deeper elements too, from abuse to online trolling, sexism to corruption, and greed to friendship for example, so that Vengeful Women is more than just that romp. 

With glamour throughout, and being sharp, sassy and sexy, Vengeful Women is a thrilling bonkbuster for the modern age. It’s frenetic, fun and fabulous. With the National Year of Reading 2026 on the horizon, Vengeful Women could just be the very narrative to get non-readers hooked on books. I loved it.

And for all the doubters out there about this genre of writing, just remember – and beware – Hell hath no fury… 

About Melanie Blake

Melanie Blake is the internationally bestselling author behind the sensational trilogy that began with Ruthless Women, the Sunday Times #4 bestseller that sold 250,000 copies in its first month, and its bestselling sequel, Guilty Women. She’s also a successful playwright, having adapted her first novel The Thunder Girls into a play which broke box-office records for a new work – a credit she still holds to this day. Melanie’s books have been translated into nine languages and have captivated more than a million readers worldwide. 

Melanie’s stories are exhilarating rollercoaster rides packed with all the glitz, glamour, passion, and intrigue of the blockbuster novels of the eighties, yet reflective of the world we live in today. When Melanie was asked to write a foreword to a new Jackie Collins edition, it was a dream come true; Jackie’s bold and fierce characters have always inspired her. When the Daily Mirror anointed Melanie ‘Jackie Collins for a new generation,’ the journey that started with devouring Jackie’s steamy novels as a teenager was complete.

For further information visit Melanie’s website, follow her on X @MelanieBlakeUK or find Melanie on Instagram. 

There’s more with these other bloggers too:

I was beyond excited when the lovely folk at EDPR sent me a surprise copy of Milly Johnson’s latest book, Let The Bells Ring Out, because she’s one of my favourite authors and a fabulous human being to boot! If you head here, you’ll find my other reviews of some of Milly’s books and realise why I was so delighted to receive this latest one. 

It’s my pleasure to share my review of Let The Bells Ring Out today and as Milly will be two miles up the road from me at Molecey Frost Fair at the end of the week, selling and signing copies of Let The Bells Ring Out, I’m very much looking forward to getting my copy signed.

Let The Bells Ring Out was published by Simon and Schuster on 23rd October 2025 and, as well as at Molecey on Friday evening and Saturday, is available for purchase through the links here. 

Let The Bells Ring Out

Seven people, four days and a snowy Christmas on board a luxury sleeper train. This festive season getting away from it all takes on a new meaning…

The Yorkshire Belle is a glamorous steam train all decked out for an escapist festive getaway. It is not supposed to be where a group of people, all trying to get to their destinations for the holidays, will spend their Christmas. 

Seven people, each with their own hopes and dreams, secrets and sorrows, board the train as strangers, but as the snow keeps falling and they realise they are going nowhere fast, they are forced to slow down and embrace the present.

This Christmas on board the Yorkshire Belle, will the friendships they make change their lives forever?

My Review of Let The Bells Ring Out

Seven passengers are stuck in the snow on a steam train.

Before I began reading Let The Bells Ring Out I had anticipated that it would be another of Milly Johnson’s warm and lovely stories about friendship, and it is. But it is so much more besides. I adored it. I laughed aloud and I shed several tears, both for the characters, for myself and for others I know who are akin to the characters in the book.

Those characters are quite fabulous. Ranging across five decades in age there really is someone here for any reader to relate to. And given what is going on in their lives, there’s a situation for every reader to recognise, empathise with, or learn from, too. You see, in Let The Bells Ring Out, the author has gone beyond her usual understanding of the innermost hopes, fears, vulnerabilities, strengths and weaknesses in the people she creates, and given them even greater depth that transcends mere entertainment. I loved every one of them wholeheartedly, from the slightly wacky Roo to the wise Jane. 

The setting of the Yorkshire Belle train is fabulous. There’s such an intimacy at being cocooned in the carriages and cut off from the outside world that it’s impossible not to be aboard too because of Milly Johnson’s vivid descriptions of the luxury. It’s been a lifelong ambition of mine to travel on the Orient Express, and Let The Bells Ring Out has made me feel as if I’ve partly achieved that ambition. I adored the Christmas references with the decorations, the food and drink, music from the real BBC and the wonderful sense of community that the narrative creates. The real world could benefit from a touch of Milly Johnson’s perceptive insight into what we really need at Christmas – not material gifts, but instead love, companionship, belonging and understanding. The title is inspired too. Real bells are heard, and are frequently associated with Christmas which is the timescale for the story, but bells are also sounded to toll sorrow, alert to danger and in celebration and the reader discovers all these aspects in the narrative.

Indeed, it is the themes of Let The Bells Ring Out that are truly the masterpiece of this story. We delve right into the heart and soul of Roo, Elizabeth, Vincent, Jane, Tim, Frank and Grace to discover love and loss, grief and happiness, anxiety and joy. There’s a sensitive portrait of marriage and family, friendship and kindness so that I finished the book feeling exactly how Jane describes such experiences (but you need to read Let The Bells Ring Out to discover what that is!). In  addition, there’s a real irony that whilst these characters are isolated, unmoving, on a snowed-in steam train, they go on the greatest emotional journey of discovery of their lives. 

There’s also an added extra layer of mystery in Let The Bells Ring Out but to say more would wander into spoiler territory. I found that aspect thought-provoking and again it led me into deeper contemplation. Just how much of coincidence is coincidence and how quick are we to judge others and allow flawed perception to cloud the truth? 

In case it’s not obvious, I loved this story. It entertained me unwaveringly. It made me think and it brought me enormous pleasure. There’s a real skill to bringing unalloyed joy into other people’s lives and Milly Johnson has it in spades. Don’t miss Let the Bells Ring Out. It’s glorious – the magical spirit of Christmas in book form. 

About Milly Johnson 

Milly Johnson was born, raised and still lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She is the author of 23 novels, 4 short story ebooks, a book of poetry and a Quick Reads Novella (The Little Dreams of Lara Cliffe) and was an erstwhile leading copywriter for the greetings card industry. She is also a poet, a professional joke-writer, a newspaper columnist and a seasoned after dinner speaker.

She won the RoNA for Best Romantic Comedy Novel of 2014 and 2016, the Yorkshire Society award for Arts and Culture 2015, the Romantic Novelist Association Outstanding Achievement award in 2020, the Goldsboro Books Contemporary Romantic Novel Award in 2021 and the Richard Whiteley Award for Inspiration to the County of Yorkshire in 2022.

She writes about love, life, friendships and the importance of community spirit. Her books champion women, their strength and resilience and celebrate her beloved Yorkshire.

Her 23rd novel Let the Bells Ring Out is available now.

You can follow Milly on Twitter/X @millyjohnson and Facebook, or you can visit her website for more information. You’ll also find Milly on Instagram.

Snowblind by Ragnar Jónasson was first published just as I began blogging a decade ago and was one of those books I never got round to reading. Since then, with Snowblind selling over five million copies worldwide, being published in over 36 languages and selected as one of Top 100 Crime Fiction of all time by Blackwell’s Bookshop and French press, I have had terrible FOMO! Ragnar Jónasson’s The Dark Iceland series is now in production for a major TV series with an international cast, so when Anne Cater invited me to be part of the Snowblind tenth anniversary blog tour I broke my self-imposed ban on tours and jumped at the chance. It’s my pleasure to share my review today and to help close the tour.

The anniversary edition of Snowblind was published by Orenda on 10th October 2025, alongside a never-before published prequel Fadeout and is available for purchase here. 

Snowblind 

Siglufjörður: an idyllically quiet fishing village in Northern Iceland, where no one locks their doors – accessible only via a small mountain tunnel. Ari Thór Arason: a rookie policeman on his first posting, far from his girlfriend in Reykjavik – with a past that he’s unable to leave behind. When a young woman is found lying halfnaked in the snow, bleeding and unconscious, and a highly esteemed, elderly writer falls to his death in the local theatre, Ari is dragged straight into the heart of a community where he can trust no one, and secrets and lies are a way of life. An avalanche and unremitting snowstorms close the mountain pass, and the 24- hour darkness threatens to push Ari over the edge, as curtains begin to twitch, and his investigation becomes increasingly complex, chilling and personal. Past plays tag with the present and the claustrophobic tension mounts, while Ari is thrust ever deeper into his own darkness – blinded by snow, and with a killer on the loose… 

Fadeout

When Ari Thór Arason receives a staggeringly high bill for a foreign credit card that was taken out in his name, his life takes a turn he never anticipated. The bill in question belongs to his namesake – his father, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances when Ari was only a child. Seeking answers, Ari Thór travels to London to investigate, hoping to learn the truth about what happened to his father all those years ago, and discovering far more than he could ever have imagined… 

My Review of Snowblind

Ari Thór Arason has a new police placement in Siglufjörður.

Let me say from the outset that, whilst I had heard very positive praise for Snowblind, I still wasn’t prepared for the frequent beauty of the prose. This may be a novel in translation (by Quentin Bates) but it has a mellifluous fluidity to descriptions that is simply stunning, making the Icelandic setting thrum with authenticity. I found the dated structure of the book, with the italicised aspect gradually uncovered, meant that there’s intriguing mystery throughout. I had expected a hard hitting and perhaps rather visceral narrative and loved the way that instead this story has a more traditional atmosphere, frequently reminding me of Agatha Christie. 

It took me a little while to attune to the unfamiliar Icelandic names which worked brilliantly because it placed me in an unfamiliar environment in exactly the same manner as Ari Thor finds himself when he arrives in Siglufjörður. Siglufjörður itself is so much more than a setting. The claustrophobic isolation, the small town intensity where everyone knows everything (or so they think) about everyone else, and the harshness of the winter all contribute not only to the plot, but to the reader’s appreciation of Ari Thor’s personality, mentality and situation.

I loved meeting Ari Thor because he’s so realistic. Young, rather stubborn and not quite sure what he wants to do with his life, he is impulsive, frequently naïve and yet perceptive and likeable. As Snowblind progressed I felt he developed brilliantly, with incredible potential for his character in future books. Ari Thor is a nuanced and layered person and I feel sure I have only just begun to understand him.

The plot is thoroughly engaging. Again, the denouement has a Christie-esque impression so that there are real ‘aha’ moments. The the way the author drops hints as Ari Thor continues his investigations, but doesn’t fully reveal everything to the reader means that they are held captivated and compelled to read on. It sounds somewhat cliched to say so, but I felt completely drawn into the story. 

But whilst Snowblind is an engaging and entertaining police procedural novel, it is so much more too. Ragnar Jónasson explores deeper themes with a lightness of touch that is highly impressive. There’s rivalry and guilt, family and relationships, adultery, betrayal and a terrifyingly realistic understanding that justice isn’t always served to those who deserve it – but you’ll need to read Snowblind to discover more. 

Snowblind rather took me by surprise. Cosier and more traditional in style than I anticipated, I felt it was perfectly pitched and am entirely hooked on reading more about Siglufjörður and Ari Thor. I really recommend Snowblind and it’s just right for these darker winter days. Don’t miss it. 

About Ragnar Jónasson

Ragnar Jónasson is the award-winning Icelandic author of the international bestselling Hulda series, the Dark Iceland series, and standalone crime fiction, with five million copies sold across 36 territories. The Times selected The Darkness as one of the 100 Best Crime Novels and Thrillers since 1945, and Snowblind has been selected as one of Top 100 Crime Fiction of all time. The Times has said of his work: ‘Is this the best crime writer in the world?’ His books have been on bestseller lists across Europe and the USA, and won multiple prizes. He has also won a special jury recognition for his poetry in Iceland. Ragnar has translated fourteen of Agatha Christie’s novels into Icelandic. Ragnar was also an executive producer of the CBS Studios TV series The Darkness, based on the first novel in his Hulda series. His novel Outside is currently being developed for the screen by Ridley Scott.

Ragnar has a law degree and teaches copyright law at Reykjavik University. He also serves as a board member of the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, and as the Deputy Chair of the Writers’ Union of Iceland. Ragnar is the co-founder and co-chair of the literary festival Iceland Noir, held annually in Reykjavik.

For further information visit Ragnar’s website and follow him on X @ragnarjo, Instagram and Facebook.

There’s more with these other bloggers too:

The Meaning of Liff by Douglas Adams and John Lloyd is the same age as my marriage so when Gaby Jerrard sent me the brand new 42nd anniversary edition I couldn’t have been happier. It’s my pleasure to share my review of The Meaning of Liff today. 

Published by Pan Macmillan on 23rd October 2025, The Meaning of Liff is available for purchase through the publisher links here. 

The Meaning of Liff

From Douglas Adams (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) and John Lloyd (Blackadder, Spitting Image, QI), this is the 42nd anniversary edition of The Meaning of Liff. Revised, updated and ready to change your life.

In life, there are hundreds of familiar experiences, feelings and objects for which no words exist, yet hundreds of strange words are idly loafing around on signposts, pointing at places. The Meaning of Liff connects the two. This is a hilariously essential dictionary of things there should be words for – where all the words themselves are recycled place names.

BERRIWILLOCK (n.) – An unknown workmate who writes ‘All the best’ on your leaving card.

ELY (n.) – The first, tiniest inkling that something, somewhere has gone terribly wrong.

GRIMBISTER (n.) – Large body of cars on a motorway all travelling at exactly the speed limit because one of them is a police car.

KETTERING (n.) – The marks left on your bottom or thighs after sunbathing on a wickerwork chair.

OCKLE (n.) – An electrical switch which appears to be off in both positions.

WOKING (ptcpl.vb.) – Standing in the kitchen wondering what you came in here for.

42 years later, The Meaning of Liff is back, but in a snazzier jacket.

Think of it as a mid-liff crisis.

My Review of The Meaning of Liff

A special 42nd anniversary edition.

What on earth can I say about The Meaning of Liff? It’s bonkers, brilliant and reading it feels like a Burwash (buy the book and look it up!) and any fan of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy will love it.

Given that this is a special anniversary edition, I just want to comment on Douglas Adams’ insistence that the book must be of a size to fit into a pocket. This means that The Meaning of Liff is perfect for slipping into a bag or pocket and reading at those moments when life needs some lightness. I loved the space-blue background, gold lettering, the suggestion of stars and the robust cover too as they give a feeling of quality.  

I was surprised by John Lloyd’s preface as it reveals aspects I hadn’t previously known about his working relationship with Douglas Adams. Add in the map of the world and the narrative contained in the dialogue of the previous prefaces, and The Meaning of Liff entertains before it’s actually begun.

It was such a treat to work my way through what is, essentially, an alphabetical list of international place names that have been given zany, witty or humorous definitions. I was particularly entertained by Kettering (where I was born) – ‘The marks left on your bottom or thighs after sunbathing on a wickerwork chair’ and Oundle (where I went to school) – ‘To walk along leaning sideways, with one arm hanging limp and dragging one leg behind the other. Most commonly used by actors in amateur productions of Richard III, or by people carrying a heavy suitcase in one hand’ as this was my default gait when traipsing home from Oundle via the school bus with all my A’Level text books.

In addition, there’s a completely insane Index of Meanings that is enormously entertaining and somewhat anarchic, providing place names for a wide range of ordinary words, thereby inverting the structure of the main book. I don’t think I have ever read an index to a book from start to finish before and this one has some real surprises. 

The Meaning of Liff will not suit every reader. Those who are not fans of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy probably won’t find it Clixby. However, they are probably Ainderby Quernhow or Kibblesworth, as I thought it was a wonderfully nostalgic, witty read that lifts the spirits and brings a whole lot of fun. It made me chortle throughout. The Meaning of Liff would be a great gift book for the person who has everything.

About Douglas Adams

Douglas Adams created all the various and contradictory manifestations of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: radio, novels, TV, computer game, stage adaptations, comic book and bath towel. He lectured and broadcast around the world and was a patron of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and Save the Rhino International. Douglas Adams was born in Cambridge, UK and lived with his wife and daughter in Islington, London, before moving to Santa Barbara, California, where he died suddenly in 2001.

About John Lloyd

John Lloyd is one of the most successful television comedy producers of all time, having been responsible for Not the Nine O’Clock News, Blackadder, QI and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

It’s another of the Kew Gardens collection books from Welbeck for review today as I’m taking a look at Kew: The Psychedelic Garden by Sandra Lawrence thanks to lovely Isabelle Wilson at Headline who sent me a copy in return for an honest review. It’s my pleasure to share my review today.

The other Kew books I have reviewed are: 

Fragrance by Josh Carter and Samuel Gearing reviewed here 

Parched by Philip Clayton reviewed here 

The Apothecary’s Garden by Emma Wayland reviewed here 

Published by Welbeck on 24th July 2025 The Psychedelic Garden is available for purchase through the publisher links here. 

Kew: The Psychedelic Garden

From ancient ayahuasca rituals in the Amazon to substance-fuelled partying in the Summer of Love, psychoactive plants have been used for thousands of years for everything from shamanic ceremonies to staying awake. The Psychedelic Garden is a fascinating exploration of these incredible species that, for centuries, have helped shape the way we see the world.

With expert text and gorgeous botanical illustrations from the archives at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, this mind-expanding book delves into the folklore, cultural relevance and botanical background of these remarkable plants.

My Review of The Psychedelic Garden

The history and folklore of mind-altering plants!

Crikey! This is quite a read. 

Before I get on to the contents, however, I must once again praise the physical properties of The Psychedelic Garden. As with other books in the Kew series that I’ve read, this one has all the high quality properties I’ve come to expect, making it a wonderful gift book. Beautifully illustrated with everything from film posters through superb images from the Kew library to even a Jimi Hendrix poster, there’s so much to delight the eye. The hard back cover is weighty and robust with lovely end papers too. 

This isn’t a gardening book about cultivation, but rather a journey into all the elements of mind-altering plants to the extent that it seems to have the same effect as some of the plants featured. Quite a lot of the information is mind-blowing – you might be very surprised at the effect of the kava plant stalk but you’ll need to read the book for yourself to discover why! 

One of the aspects I especially appreciated is the reference to literature. Sandra Lawrence’s introduction begins with a mention of Aldous Huxley and there are literary examples and instances throughout from Frank Baum to Shakespeare, so that those who prefer fiction to non-fiction will find relevance here. Indeed, to quote from the Tea section, ‘it’s the stories that count’. 

It’s quite hard to review The Psychedelic Garden without simply regurgitating some of the fascinating facts and details contained within its pages, but this book takes the reader on all kinds of journeys. From its pages you’ll discover the effects of plants, information about history, geography and culture for example. You’ll find out where words originated and learn far more than might be imagined. I absolutely abhor cigarettes and one of the facts I enjoyed the most was discovering that in 1604 James VI and I wrote an anti-smoking treatise called ‘A Counterblaste to Tobacco’.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Psychedelic Garden. It’s the kind of book that tells you all kinds of interesting and entertaining things you never even imagined or knew you wanted to know. It’s part of an excellent series and I think its my favourite so far.

About Sandra Lawrence

Sandra Lawrence is a journalist and author. She writes for the Evening Standard, Guardian, Financial Times, The Times, Londonist.com and the English Garden. She is the London columnist for British Heritage magazine and is on the Q&A panel of experts for History Revealed magazine.

For further information visit Sandra’s website, follow her on X @MissVolare or find Sandra on Instagram.