Srivalli Rekha (Semi Hiatus)'s Blog, page 6

An Italian Wedding Adventure by Leonie Mack - Book Review

Series: #1 

Publication Date: 09th May 2025 

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

3.5 Stars 

One Liner: It was nice, but dragged a little 

Eight years ago, on the leap day (29th Feb), wedding planner Sophie-Leigh Kirke proposed to her then-boyfriend, who broke her heart. She cut contact with him and moved on with her life. 

Mountaineer Andreas is now back in her life, working for an adventure travel company; the same one with which her destination wedding company has been merged. With Andreas assigned as her guide, Sophie has to search for the perfect local for a destination wedding for the client. 

Thrown together by circumstances, can the two sort out their past and decide their future? Will it be together or apart from one another? 

The story comes in the third-person POVs of Sophie and Andreas. 

My Thoughts: 

Well, I liked the premise of a second chance romance with a virtual tour of the Italian hills, never mind that I’m not into mountaineering. Imagine wanting to climb a mountain as part of your wedding. Shudder! Good if you like it. Not for me! 

This is quite an angsty book where the tension between the lead couple starts almost at the beginning. Some of it was well done, especially Sophie’s arc. 

We also get a lot of descriptions of the places they hike and explore to finalize the venue for the destination wedding. I did enjoy most of it. Who doesn’t like a virtual tour of a new place? 

There are a few side characters we meet at the beginning, but they don’t have much role to play until the end (not even then, TBH). However, the reason for their presence is hinted at in the epilogue and the acknowledgments. This is apparently the first book in the series. There will be more with the same team, but different couples. 

However, the storyline seems to drag on for a while. The book feels longer than it should have been. There’s also a lot of repetition about the MMC’s opinion about marriage and weddings. 

What made this a 3-star instead of a 4-star was the MMC. Even after reading the book, I couldn’t actually see the reason for his actions (except that he acted like a man-child afraid of emotions and commitment). Maybe his inability to express his feelings is realistic, but he annoyed me quite a lot for the majority of the book. He did manage to pull himself together, though. 

They also go around in circles a lot. Cutting down some of this (and making the book shorter) would have helped a lot and also shown the MMC in a better light. 

The epilogue has nothing to do with this story, so it is more of a teaser for the next one. 

To summarize, An Italian Wedding Adventure is a decent romance with travel, adventure, and some drama. It could have been better, but it does have its moments. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #AnItalianWeddingAdventure

This Thing Called Love by Debbie Howells - Book Review

Publication Date: 05th May 2025

Genre: Contemporary Fiction  

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: This was sweet 

When Bee loses her job, home, and boyfriend on the same day, she is at her lowest point. It doesn’t help that some guy spilled his coffee on her. However, she finally learns the name of her father, Luke Friday, a musician she has never met. Bee decides to search for him and find out more. 

Alex is the guy who spilled coffee on her. At home, he takes care of his mother, whose memories desert her. In an attempt to help her, Alex wants to find a man called Luke Friday, someone with whom his mother played music once upon a time. 

As Alex and Bee search for the same person, Luke’s nine-year-old daughter is trying to find something or someone to bring her father out of his grief. How will their paths cross? What happens next? 

The story comes in Bee and Alex’s first-person POVs. 

My Thoughts: 

This is contemporary fiction and family drama where the lead characters are on their personal quests. Though their paths will eventually interact, it doesn’t happen until the last quarter. 

The book deals with themes like dementia, being a caregiver, emotionally unavailable parent, loss of a partner and parent, loneliness, etc. While these make the story a bit heavy, the book doesn’t feel overwhelming. 

It takes a little time to like Bee. However, her confusion, fears, vulnerabilities, etc., are well-presented. She is hesitant, sad, and ready to give up, much like how people react in similar situations. This elevates her character as the story progresses. 

Alex is a good guy; someone easy to like, pretty much from the first. We can’t help but root for both main leads to find the ray of light in their lives. 

Little Mack is adorable! God, I loved her! My heart broke for her, but she put it together with her childlike wisdom and innocence. The side characters are certainly interesting, and some of them have prominent roles. 

Both main characters have careers related to nature (sort of), though we don’t actively see them at work. There’s a love track for them, which really doesn’t make any impact. It has been left too late and seems like a last-minute patch-up. Either they should have met earlier and shared a part of the journey, or their romance should have gotten a hint only at the end (like a slice-of-life ending). 

Still, the rest of it is rather good, so I’m willing to look over the issues. Also, a certain character I disliked doesn’t have a 360-degree change of heart. There’s no forced ‘family comes first’ nonsense. Here, family is found family. Just the way I like it. 

To summarize, This Thing Called Love is a heartwarming book about finding your people, caring for your loved ones, and the power of music and memories for people with dementia. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #ThisThingCalledLove

A Letter from the Lonesome Shore by Sylvie Cathrall - Book Review

Series: The Sunken Archive #2 (Duology; not a standalone)

Publication Date: 06th May 2025

Genre: Fantasy 

 3 Stars 

One Liner: Well… I wish I liked it better 

Sophy and Vyerin, respective siblings of E. and Henerey, finally figured out what had happened. Now, they are on a mission to search and bring back their loved ones. They even discover the elusive Entries. However, before they can succeed, an ancient cosmic threat could destroy everything. 

Will the siblings reunite, and can E. and Henerey have their HEA without any threats looming overhead? 

This is an epistolary novel and comes in a series of letters, journal entries, notes, records, etc. 

My Thoughts: 

This is not a standalone. You have to read the previous book before you get to this. As much as I want to tell you that you should read them together, I won’t. The pacing is so slow that back-to-back such books could put you in a slump. Space books #1 and #2, with a couple of quick reads in between. 

In a way, this book does feel easier to read. However, it is also a chore. There’s a bit of intrigue about what the danger is or what could have happened, but honestly, it takes too long to get to the point. This was okay in the previous book since it set the stage. Here, there isn’t enough plot for a 400-page book, and yet, it feels like I’ve read an 800-page tome. In short, it drones on and on. 

The bits with E. and Henerey are still adorable and made the book more bearable. Scholar 30.ii is also cute in a bumbling way. They brought some much-needed lightness to the narrative. 

Also, imagine a world where being on time for an appointment means they arrive four hours early! Sounds funny until they knock on your door at 4 AM because you planned to meet at 8 AM. Still, the scene made me laugh. 

Since the whole thing is essentially notes, letters, and records, there’s a lot of stream-of-consciousness rambling, which goes overboard in many places. Just because something is fun to write doesn’t make it fun to read. Sorry, I say this as an author myself. 

The mental health rep is wonderfully done. It shows the situations without making it preachy or OTT. There are other themes like the dark side of academia, fear of the unknown, restrictive perspectives, personal prejudices, influence, etc. None of them feel forced, so that’s a good thing. 

I liked meeting the mysterious sea woman again. Wouldn’t have minded if she had more space. 

The world-building is interesting. There are details, though not enough to explain everything. In a way, this is good. The book is a slog as it is. However, I could visualize the domes, the library, the underwater garden, the rooms, etc. No complaints here. 

It takes way too long to get to the Antepelagic insights, the backstory, and stuff. The Predator doesn’t feel the least bit scary either. In a way, it’s good that he isn’t mentioned often. 

The climax and ending are… lackluster… bland and underwhelming. Not that I expected anything big given the tone so far, but what we get is just too weak to make a proper impact. I can see why it ends with that entry. It’s a saving grace for those who enjoyed the book more for E. and Henerey. 

To summarize, A Letter from the Lonesome Shore has a few nice things to offer, but doesn’t give the same experience as the previous book, despite offering a conclusion. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Orbit Books, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #ALetterFromTheLonesomeShore

The Venice Murders by Merryn Allingham - Book Review

Series: Flora Steele Mystery #11

Publication Date: 09th May 2025

Purchase Link:

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/221635256-the-venice-murders

Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery

3.8 Stars

One Liner: Time-traveled to Venice in the late 1950s

Book Blurb:

Amateur detective and bookshop ownerFlora Steele and her dashing new husband Jack Carrington are finally embarkingon the honeymoon of a lifetime. But will gorgeous gondola rides be ruined bytheir most heart-stopping case ever?

Venice, 1959:As Flora and Jack step onto the beautiful, historic streets of Venice, they vowto put sleuthing aside to finally enjoy their honeymoon. But on their veryfirst sun-soaked morning, whilst enjoying sparkling wine and mouthwateringpastries, they’re interrupted when hotel receptionist, Franco Mancini, isdiscovered floating face-down in the Grand Canal.

Remembering poor Franco’s kind demeanor when theychecked into the Cipriani Hotel, Flora quickly realizes that her honeymoon phase isshe must solve the case. She saw a hot-headed restaurant owner arguing withFranco the night he died. Could their mysterious argument have gone too far? Orcould it have been Franco’s jilted ex-fiancée, Bianca, who acted so coldly atnews of his death? Was it a crime of passion that sent him tumbling into thewaters?

When Flora learns from a priest that a pricelesspainting has disappeared from his church along with his elderly housekeeper,she begins to marry together the clues that will lead her to a dangerous familythat will stop at nothing to get their revenge. Will Flora and Jack crackthe case before the killer claims another victim? Or will it be ‘death do uspart’ for this crime-solving couple?

A completely gripping and totallycharming cozy murder mystery novel, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, FaithMartin, and J.R. Ellis!

***

My Thoughts:

The story comes in Flora and Jack’s third-personPOVs.

This is the eleventh book in the series and shouldwork as a standalone, though it’ll help to read a couple of previous ones toget an idea about the sleuthing couple.

I wish the official blurbs weren’t so detailed orelaborate. We don’t need to know that much before starting a mystery. I say,read the first paragraph and leave the other two.

This was an interesting book. Firstly, the lead pairis on their honeymoon, a delayed one, too! Naturally, Jack doesn’t want to goaround sleuthing and flirting with danger. I admit to empathizing with himmore, though he doesn’t hesitate when the time comes.

I normally like Flora's attitude. Her desire forjustice is noteworthy, and she’s got the brain for it. Even her hunches tend tobe correct most of the time. However, she managed to annoy me a few times here. She needs a full-time job now that her shop hasan assistant.

The mysteries are quite good! There are quite a fewtwists and turns as new information is revealed, and it’s hard to determine whospeaks the truth.

Of course, we get a tour of Venice, but from 1959,so it’s more beautiful, less crowded, and has an old-world charm. Though thecity has signs of war and destruction, it is relatively less polluted.

And yes, there’s loads of food too. As Jack says,why go to Italy if you don’t enjoy food? Though I’m sad they skipped dessert afew times after the meals. How could you do that? Dessert is compulsory!

The book ends with a potential lead for the nextone. There’s a mysterious new entry in Abbeymead, and people are gossipingabout him. How is he? Maybe we’ll know in book #12!

To summarize, The Venice Murders is an entertainingread set in a beautiful city. While it does feel a bit formulaic, it is still adecent addition to the series.

Thank you, Sarah, NetGalley, and Bookouture, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

#NetGalley

***

About the Author – Merryn Allingham

Merryn taught university literature for many years,and it took a while to pluck up the courage to begin writing herself. Bringingthe past to life is a passion and her historical fiction includes Regencyromances, wartime sagas, and timeslip novels, all of which have a mystery attheir heart. As the books have grown darker, it was only a matter of timebefore she plunged into crime with a cozy crime series set in rural Sussexagainst the fascinating backdrop of the 1950s.

Merryn lives in a beautiful old town in Sussex withher husband. When she’s not writing, she tries to keep fit with adult balletclasses and plenty of walking.

Follow the Author:

Website: https://merrynallingham.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MerrynWrites

X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/merrynwrites

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releasesfrom Merryn Allingham here:  https://www.bookouture.com/merryn-allingham

***

This has been a pitstop on the blog tour for#TheVeniceMurders by Bookouture (@bookouture). Thank you for stopping by! 

Sign up for all the best Bookouture deals: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo 

The Swim by Janet Hoggarth - Book Review

Publication Date: 07th May 2025

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/TheSwim

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223328936-the-swim

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

3.7 Stars

One Liner: Introspective but too slow and long

Book Blurb:

Cordelia Franks never finishes anythingand has spent a lifetime hiding in the shadows.

So, when she decides to train to swim the EnglishChannel, she understands why no one believes she can do it. She doesn’t reallybelieve she can either, but she’s determined to try.

As she strides into the Channel with hoursstretching ahead of her, Cordelia swims against every milestone in her life sofar. Every failed relationship, every friendship let go, every exam failed,every tricky job she quit. A life lived never giving it her all. Until now.

With every stroke, with every mile, Cordelia knowsthat this is finally her moment. Because if she keeps this promise to herself,if she doesn’t give up, nothing will ever be the same again.

And waiting in France is an unimagined future andsomeone who does believe in her…

***

My Thoughts:

The story comes in Cordelia’s first-person POV with a few random chapters from others’ third-person POVs. 

I was tempted by the premise of a woman with pasttrauma taking up such a challenge to prove her worth to herself first.Naturally, her past wouldn’t be easy, and as expected, it wasn’t.

The first-person POV does a good job of taking thereaders into the MC’s mind and the mess inside it. The narrative style is a bitchaotic initially, but you’ll get used to the pattern. Though I haven’t watchedthe movies she mentions, I could understand their significance in her life.

The pacing is super slow, which works in the firsthalf. However, the second half feels stretched beyond its limit. Many times, Icaught myself looking at the % and wondering when we’ll get to the endpoint.The book could have been 30-40 pages shorter. This would have made the wholeconcept more effective, too.

There are many hard themes here – fat shaming,dysfunctional families, selfish mothers, toxic relationships, bulimia, bodydysmorphia, self-destruction, mental illness, racism, homophobia, AIDS, bullying,generational trauma, and many more.

This is a heavy read, and as more details arerevealed, it gets heavier. That’s okay to an extent. It is good to wind the keyand keep the reader in a state of suspended tension for the MC. However,over-tightening the key and repeating the pattern after it has been establishedworks in reverse. That’s what happened in the second half. I first thought thiswould be a 4.5-star read, easily.

The MC is not exactly likable. She is flawed and hasa truckload of trauma to process, which she refuses to do. While the swimmingdoes bring some growth in her arc, there isn’t a lot of progress. In a way,this is realistic. People don’t change so quickly after all. But as a reader,it doesn’t feel frustrating. Of course, there were so many instances when Iwanted to hug her younger version.

The side characters are decent. Derek/ Desi, thecousin, stands out for being the one person who stood for the MC despiteeverything. I really liked that guy. David was okay. He tried his best.

We get random third-person POVs from around 45%.While Desi’s POVs were useful and David’s POV was necessary, I can’t say thesame for the others. These felt more like a way to provide the missing detail.But we already have too much information!

The book ends on a hopeful note, and we can onlyhope the MC won’t revert to her self-destructive ways. At least, we won’t knowif she does!

To summarize, The Swim is a slow-paced,introspective, and heavy read about coming to terms with one’s past trauma. Itis a good book.

Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and BoldwoodBooks, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinionabout the book.

#NetGalley

***

About the Author - Janet Hoggarth

Janet Hoggarth is the number one bestselling authorof The Single Mums' Mansion and the highly successful Single Mums' subsequentseries. She has worked on a chicken farm, as a bookseller, a children’s bookeditor, a children’s author, and as a DJ (under the name of Whitney andBritney!). She lives with her family in East Dulwich, London.

Follow the Author:

Facebook: @JanetHoggarthAuthor

Twitter: @JanetHAuthor

Instagram: @janet_hoggarth_author

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JanetHoggarthnews

Bookbub Profile: @JanetHoggarth1

***

This has been a stop on the #TheSwim blog tourby Rachel's Random Resources (@rararesources).Thanks for stopping by!

A Town with Half the Lights On by Page Getz - Book Review

Publication Date: 22nd Apr 2025

Genre: General Fiction 

3 Stars 

One Liner: Interesting but drags on forever! 

Goodnight, Kansas

People don’t move to goodnight when everything in their lives is going well. No wonder the entry of Chef Sid Solvang and his family creates curiosity. Sid may not want to cook again ever, but he also doesn’t want to stay in his wife’s childhood hometown. He would find a way to go back to Brooklyn. However, with the local May Day Diner under the threat of being torn down, the citizens will have to work together to save their town. 

The story comes in a series of clippings, diary entries, notes, emails, etc. 

My Thoughts: 

This was an interesting premise, and the epistolary format tempted me. With emails, handwritten notes, journal entries, text messages, and newspaper reports, there is enough variety to mix and match the presentation. 

The book starts with the Solvang family entering Goodnight, a remote town in Kansas that relies on the tire factory to provide livelihood and keep the place alive. Right here, you can guess what’s coming. 

Of course, there are other items on the checklist – small-town bigotry & bigheartedness, family feud, secrets, Christian zealousness, capitalism/ communism/ socialism drama, conspiracy theories, odd-one-out, down-on-the-luck guy saving a town, spunky teenagers, etc. 

While there’s no denying the scattered bits of humor and entertainment, as a package, the book feels underwhelming, like a collection of social topics one has to tick off a list. 

My favorite character is Disco, hands down. No one else can take her place at the top. She made the book a lot more enjoyable. Also, whatever emotions I felt were limited to her. 

I didn’t expect the book to be so slow. By the time I reached 30%, I was tired and like I had read more than half the book, only to realize otherwise. The middle dragged even more. By the last 30%, I was more than ready to skim and finish it as soon as possible. It’s not really hard to guess most of the twists and reveals. They were very much apparent. 

At the end, there’s an interview with the author. Here, she says she could ‘describe a raindrop for three pages’ but... I think this answers why the book feels heavier than it is. It is bloated. Also, the voices aren’t always distinct, and we have many since everyone communicates through emails or notes. 

The ending is open and more like a slice-of-life story, so we don’t get answers to all the questions. This is a bit annoying after having to read so much. I’d have preferred a rounded ending with a little more development, at least for my favorite character. She deserves it! 

There are a few quirky or experimental recipes mentioned, and quite a bit of food given, as it is one of the central themes. I don’t care for the other experiments, but tamosa… well, it sounds interesting, though I won’t be first in line to taste it. 

To summarize, A Town with Half the Lights On sounds intriguing but doesn’t actually present anything new. It’s a decent read if you enjoy such themes, but the writing style can be a hit or a miss. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley

Murder at the Ponte Vecchio by T A Williams - Book Review - Blog Tour

Series: Armstrong and Oscar Mystery #11

Publication Date: 04th May 2025

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/murderpontevecchio

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223781456-murder-at-the-ponte-vecchio

Genre: Contemporary Cozy Mystery, Italy

4.2 Stars

One Liner: Three-in-one mysteries!

Book Blurb:

An iconic bridge... 🌉

Private investigator Dan Armstrong lives and worksin Florence and knows the world-famous Ponte Vecchio well. Usually a magnet fortourists, on this occasion it is the scene of an unexplained death, and Danfinds himself involved in the intriguing case.

An uncompromising man... 😠

Dan quickly discovers that the victim, an elderlyjeweler, was every bit as hard as the diamonds he sold in his shop on thebridge. Few people liked him, not even his adult children and his businessdealings looked murkier than the waters of the River Arno. Dan suspects moresecrets lie hidden…perhaps inside the massive safe in the old man's luxuryvilla…

A complex case. 💎🔍

As the evidence begins to mount up, so do thesuspects with their different motives. With a fortune in gold bullion andprecious stones involved, Dan thinks the only way to catch the killer is to laya trap, but might he be caught in the killer’s sights? Fortunately, he hasOscar, his canine wingman at his side, always eager to prove that he's as goodas gold. 🐶

Can Dan and Oscar sniff out the killer’stracks, or will this case be a bridge too far?

***

My Thoughts:

The story comes in Dan’s first-person POV.

That’s book 11 in the series, but works as astandalone since there isn’t any disturbance in the personal track.

This book has not one but three (or is it four)mysteries that start at various points. While there’s a decently long cast, itis easy to track the cases separately.

I like that the books are short (200-270 pages) andideal for reading in a couple of sittings. I’m used to the author’s style bynow, so the pacing is good too! I’m no longer worried about chapter lengths.

Every book takes us on a virtual tour of a differentplace in Italy. This time, we remain in Florence but read about Ponte Vecchio.I googled it to see the pictures (love the ones during sunset and night). It’snot just a bridge. It is a three-storied structure with tiny stores packedtight from one end to another!

We also get descriptions of delicious food (nevermind that I’m a vegetarian and eat none of it in real life) and the generousquantities they serve. This is something I relate to. Apart from a few places,Indians love to serve large portions of food. We’ll feed you until your tummybursts open. ;)

The mystery starts like every other case, but itbecomes a bit more complex as new details emerge. Things start to come togetherin the last quarter, and finally, we have the reveal and showdown!

Oscar is his usual best, obviously! Everyone fallsin love with him, and he is delighted with all the attention (and food). Canthere be a better life than that? I don’t think so!

To summarize, Murder at the Ponte Vecchio is asteady-paced and entertaining book. It continues the series’ momentum and takesus on a virtual tour of Florence with a dead body or two!

Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources andBoldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honestopinion about the book. 

#NetGalley

***

About the Author – T A Williams

T. A. Williams is the bestselling author of theArmstrong and Oscar cozy mystery series. Trevor studied languages at Universityand lived and worked in Italy for eight years, returning to England with hiswife in 1972. Trevor and his wife now live in Devon.

Follow the Author:

Facebook: @TrevorWilliamsBooks

Twitter: @TAWilliamsBooks

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/TAWilliamsNews

Bookbub profile: @trevorwilliams3

***

This has been a stop on the #MurderAtThePonteVecchioblog tour by Rachel's Random Resources (@rararesources).Thanks for stopping by!

 

Major Bricket and the Circus Corpse by Simon Brett - Book Review

Series: Major Bricket Mystery #1 

Publication Date: 24th Apr 2025 

Genre: Small Town Mystery 

3 Stars 

One Liner: It had its moments 

Suffolk 

Major Bricket has been an infrequent resident of Highfield House in Stunston Peveril. Thanks to his foreign assignments, his long absences from the village gave him an air of mystery. After his retirement, the Major has returned to settle down for good, only to find the dead body of a clown on his lawn! 

However, none of the clowns from the village’s annual fair seems to be missing. So, who is that dead man? Is it really a clown or an unfortunate guest? Well, Major Bricket is here to find the truth. 

The story comes in third-person omnipresent POV. 

My Thoughts: 

I have a hard time resisting cozies, so when I saw this one, I wanted to check out a potential new series with an older male as our sleuth. 

Before I delve in, I have to highlight that I couldn’t enjoy the story much, mainly due to the awful formatting. Even if this is an ARC, it shouldn’t be this messy. There’s no capitalization in most places (not even for some names). The lines are weirdly cut off and have random breaks. Honestly, it gave me a headache! 

Coming to the plot, it’s actually fun. This might come under humor cozy, though not the explicit kind. The mystery has OTT elements (and so does the main character). But this added to the narrative somehow instead of making it absurd. I mean, it is a bit absurd, but in a funny way. 

The setting is a mix of contemporary and historical. I’m still figuring out the period. Maybe the 1990s or early 2000s? We have phones with cameras and laptops, and mention of Starbucks, but the village has been stuck in time and stayed back at least a few decades earlier. 

We met an array of characters, some more impressive and memorable than others. Nga has definitely impressed me with her grasp of the small-town Brit elite and their silliness. The author pokes fun at their snobbishness and ignorance (of course, I enjoyed this). 

The omnipresent narration makes it possible for the author’s voice to become prominent without affecting the characters. This worked for me, so no complaints. I still wish the formatting were better, as the head-hopping wouldn’t have been confusing. 

The main character is capable, efficient, mysterious, and smart. He is a can-do-it-all kind of guy, and we get enough hints to guess his profession. James Bond vibes minus womanizing abilities (and I hope it stays that way). 

To summarize, Major Bricket and the Circus Corpse is a decent start to a new series. It does have an interesting main lead and a quirky setting. I may read the second book to decide, though I hope the ARC will have better formatting! 

Thank you, NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK (Constable), for eARC. 

#NetGalley #MajorBricketAndTheCircusCorpse

A Greek Island Gift by Mandy Baggot - Book Review - Blog Tour

Publication Date: 28th April 2025

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/greekislandgift

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/219294546-a-greek-island-gift

Genre: Contemporary Romance

3.5 Stars

One Liner: Good setting with a family drama 

Book Blurb:

An unexpected gift… A home in paradise?

When Molly Adams finds out she’sinherited an apartment in Kassiopi, Corfu, she’s left thinking there must besome mistake. She doesn’t know anyone in Greece at all.

But when she arrives, there’s a shock. Molly hasn’tinherited a whole apartment; it’s only 50%. But there’s more – she’s alsoinherited 50% of a boat, 50% of an olive tree and… 25% of a cat.

Christos Barosis coming home to Corfu for the summer. A self-made entrepreneur, owning threegyms in Athens, he has no need for half an apartment, half a boat, half anolive tree, or a quarter of a cat, but he knows these things are important tohis mother.

Molly and Christos’s worlds collide in a whirlwind,dand the irresistible charm of the Greek island draws them even closer together.But as they uncover the secrets of their shared inheritance, will they discoverthat sometimes, sharing what you never wanted can lead to exactly what youneed?

This summer, join Molly and Christos inCorfu as they try to work out if one shared Greek gift will turn into a sharedfuture. Perfect for fans of Sue Moorcroft and Jenny Colgan.

***

My Thoughts:

The story comes in Molly and Christos’s third-personPOVs.

The main attraction for me was the inheritance of25% of a cat. Like, how do you decide which quarter of the cat is yours? Doesshe get a leg and an ear, or does she feed the cat once every alternate day?Unfortunately, the cat doesn’t appear until the halfway point.

The dual POV helped get both sides of the story. Themain characters have issues to deal with, so each getting their POV brings somebalance to the plot.

What we don’t get in the blurb is the presence of atiny but overbearing family on both sides. Though it’s just a mother and friendfor the FMC and a mother and a younger sister for the MMC, they stand out morethan the main leads!

Not sure if the MMC’s mom was supposed to be thetypical Greek mother, but she reminded me of OTT and stereotyped Indian moms –loving but super suffocating and hyper. Reading scenes with her gave me quite abit of stress, though I think they were supposed to be funny.

The pacing was pretty fast, so enough, although thestory didn’t progress much, the % moved ahead steadily. This helped sincepeople seem to go around in circles about the past.

Still, I empathized with the main character’sconcerns and vulnerabilities. Their fears were valid. I also liked the careerchoices.

That said, the romance part didn’t hit the mark.There was some attraction, but I didn’t vibe with it. I can’t say I could feeltheir chemistry to root for them. Add all those secrets and drama to the mix, and there wasn’t enough focus on the couple’s connection or the supposed somethingthey felt for each other.

However, the setting was great. Reading about sweatyand hot summers in Corfu when living in a tropical country didn’t help, lol. Iwas sweating already. Still, I enjoyed the description of the views, the sea,and the buildings. It has an old-world charm and sounds attractive.

To summarize, A Greek Island Gift has its momentsand deals with some important themes about family, relationships, secrets, etc.Read it as a family drama instead of a romance. You may like it better.

Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources andBoldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honestopinion about the book. 

#NetGalley

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About the Author – Mandy Baggot

Mandy Baggot is an international bestselling andaward-winning romance writer represented by Tanera Simons of GreenstoneLiterary.

Mandy is best-known for her laugh-out-loud romanticcomedies featuring strong heroines, gorgeous heroes, and always thathappy-ever-after!

The winner of the Innovation in Romantic Fictionaward at the UK's Festival of Romance, her novel, One Wish in Manhattan, wasalso shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Comedy Novelof the Year award in 2016. In 2024, Mandy's novel, Desperately Seeking Summer, became a Hallmark Original Movie entitled A Greek Recipe for Romance.

Mandy loves the Greek island of Corfu, where she hasa home. She also loves wine, cheese, Netflix, handbags, and horse racing. Also asinger, she has taken part in ITV1's Who Dares Sings and The X-Factor. Mostrecently, Mandy took part in BBC1's Ready Steady Cook with Greek celebritychef, Akis Petretzikis.

Mandy is a member of the Society of Authors andsplits her time between living in Wiltshire, UK, and Corfu, Greece.

Follow the Author:

Facebook: @MandyBaggotAuthor

Twitter: @MandyBaggot

Instagram: @MandyBaggot

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/MandyBaggotNews

Bookbub Profile:@MandyBaggot

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This has been a stop on the #AGreekIslandGift blogtour by Rachel's Random Resources (@rararesources).Thanks for stopping by!

The Seaside Murders by Helena Dixon - Book Review

Series: The Secret Detective Agency #2

Publication Date: 30th April 2025 

Genre: Historical Mystery 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Improvement from the first book 

1941, England 

After solving the previous case, Jane Treen and Arthur Cilento were made the sole members of The Secret Detective Agency by Brigadier Remmington-Blythe. Now, they are sent to a little seaside town to investigate a case. However, soon after they reach the place, a body is found on the beach. 

While there are enough suspects, none of them are willing to cooperate. The duo spends time in Jane’s old home in the village and tries to find the murderer despite the odds. 

The story comes in Jane and Arthur’s third-person POVs. 

My Thoughts: 

I requested a copy before I finished the first book. Since both are to be released back-to-back, I knew the feedback for book #1 may not be applied here yet (not enough time). However, there is some improvement, which assures me that the series might get better. 

And yes, it works as a standalone. 

The sleuths – Jane, Arthur, and Benson (Arthur’s manservant, who is outrageously competent) – come together to solve another case, this time in Jane’s hometown. 

The setting is lovely, though the people are mixed (which seems pretty realistic). The cast of characters is slightly smaller than in the previous book (I think). Of course, it is easy enough to remember who is who. The key ones are well-defined. 

This book has two mysteries – a dead prisoner and a black market racket. Are the cases connected? You’ll have to read to find out! 

The mystery, though simple, is well-planned. I didn’t guess the criminal this time. The reveal made sense, so no complaints. We have a few red herrings and some action to keep the interest levels steady. 

The WWII backdrop is once again seamlessly used in the plot. Be it the raids, bombs, the influx of war prisoners (who are being used as farm workers), or the shortages of certain commodities, everything plays a role in the central plot. 

While I’m still not that impressed with Jane, I do see her better. Imagine being more competent than many men and still being treated as an inferior member or an entry-level assistant. No wonder she acts so extra tough! Still, I’d like her more if she reduced her smoking. After all, it’s her health I’m concerned about! 

The pacing is steady, moderate to fast. However, the book ends at 82%. Yeah, be prepared for this. Otherwise, you’ll be confused and disappointed when the story ends quickly. I checked the % in advance, so I knew what to expect. 

To summarize, The Seaside Murders is a good continuation and provides decent entertainment. I like it enough and will read the next book. Hopefully, the characters will settle down better by then.  

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheSeasideMurders