Left on the Shelf

About the Author

Cristina Wolf wrote her first book in the third grade. It was an adventure book about her beagle, Abby, complete with hand-drawn illustrations and top-notch handwriting. Needless to say, writing and reading has been a passion of Cristina’s from the beginning. After graduating from Marist College with a double major in Business and English, Cristina pursued a career in the publishing industry while earning her Master of Science in Publishing from New York University. Cristina has experience working at literary agencies and as an editorial assistant at a publishing house. Finding life in NYC a bit different than she expected, Cristina returned to her native New Jersey where she earned her Master in Teaching from Monmouth University. She now shares her love of books with her students as a middle school English teacher.

You can also find Cristina at:

Wedded to Her Enemy Knight by Lissa Morgan

My Other Blog Posts Featuring Enemies to Lovers

The Freshman Parents by Ko Porteous

Clues to You by Claire Huston

The Viscount's Daring Miss by Lotte R. James

I Followed the Rules by Joanna Bolouri

(ARC and media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Monday, 10 August 2026

Perfect Moments at Duck Pond Cottage by Della Galton - #authorQ&A #blogtour

I am so excited to be welcoming author, Della Galton onto the blog today. Della is the author of Perfect Moments at Duck Pond Cottage, which is part of the Duck Pond Cottage series.

The Blurb

When two best friends decide to share their wedding day, what could possibly go wrong?

Jade is over the moon to be tying the knot alongside her best friend, Sarah, at the stunning Bluebell Cliff Hotel in Dorset—a venue where no detail is too small and no expense is spared in the pursuit of perfection.

But as the big day draws closer, so do the complications.

A long-lost relative, a troublesome brother, and some wildly unexpected animal antics all threaten to derail the brides’ dream celebrations.

With emotions running high and chaos around every corner, their perfect day begins to unravel.

Can love and friendship hold everything together when it matters most?

Welcome to the blog, Della and for agreeing to answer a few questions about your new book.

Q Perfect Moments at Duck Pond Cottage has a plot line that includes a missing dog. Was there a reason you decided to write about a missing dog?

A Yes, there was. Last year I lost my beloved cockerpoo for two days and one night. She was spooked by a dog when we were walking in the park, but instead of running home, we were only about 5 minutes away, she ran the other way. I live in a close knit community. The whole town turned out to help me look for her, and fortunately there was a happy ending and we found her.

Eye in the Sky drones were involved in the search, and a wonderful volunteer called Jules, helped me find my little dog. I dedicated Perfect Moments at Duck Pond Cottage to Jules. She said she was honoured, but I couldn’t think of anyone more deserving.

I also now volunteer for Eye in the Sky myself. I find I can really help distraught owners because I know what they’re going through.

Q So you were drawing from real life? Do you often do that?

A Yes, I do. I think many authors do. That way we know the emotions are totally authentic.

Q In Perfect Moments at Duck Pond Cottage you write about a double wedding. Is this something you’ve experienced yourself?

A Sadly not, as I’m sure it would have been fun. But I had a lot of fun researching how double weddings are organised.

Q One of the themes in Perfect Moments at Duck Pond Cottage is finding your family in later life. Do you have any personal experience of this?

A Yes, I do. My father has six children, but I didn’t grow up with any of them! I was in my thirties when I was traced by one of my younger half-brothers – he’d been adopted – and we met in time to go to each other’s weddings.

My elder half-brother Mark and I didn’t meet until were in our late forties.

We’ve also met our half sister, Debbie. We once had a reunion in Bournemouth. It’s fantastic how much we all have in common and we keep in touch.

Q Is it important to you to get the facts right in your novels? How much research do you do?

A Yes, I’m very keen to be authentic, so basically I do as much research as it takes. One of the oddest bits of research I did for Perfect Moments involved finding a home-made remedy for getting toffee sauce stains out of silk satin! Another piece or research involved investigating countries where choosing to wear a red wedding dress is very common. I’m not going to tell you why. You’ll have to read the novel!

Many thanks Della. It has been lovely to have you on the blog today.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 1806570171

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Formats: e-book, audio and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)

No. of Pages: 240 (paperback)

Series: Book 3 in the Duck Pond Cottage series

Purchase Links

About the Author

Della Galton is the bestselling author of several romantic comedies set around the Dorset beaches and the beautiful New Forest. Her stories feature strong female friendship, quirky characters and very often the animals she loves. When she is not writing she enjoys walking her dogs around the beautiful Dorset countryside.

You can also find Della at:

(media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resource)

(all opinions are my own)

Friday, 7 August 2026

The Secret Dressmaker by Jenny O'Brien - #bookreview #blogtour

She folded up the last dress and placed it neatly in the box, her fingers brushing over the tiny, white and yellow daisies embroidered around the neck and hem. Two complete layettes...

***

The Blurb

Shelves of sequins in a kaleidoscope of colours. Bolts of silk and tulle against the back wall. The sewing room was the last place anyone had seen her daughter alive.

Northern Ireland, 1942. Flora Toussaint packs parachutes for the RAF, haunted by the twin daughters she was forced to give up eighteen years ago. When British intelligence shows her photographs of her girls – now young women in occupied Paris – her world shifts. One is safe. One has vanished. And their father, the celebrated couturier Lucien Lumineau, is suspected of collaborating with the Nazis.

Flora agrees to a dangerous mission: parachute into France, pose as a seamstress at the Moulin Rouge, and uncover the truth. Lodging above a brothel where Edith Piaf sings after hours and where Pablo Picasso still holds court, she mends costumes between shows, searches for any trace of her missing daughter between curfews, and circles closer to Lucien.

But Lucien isn’t the man she remembers. Neither is their history. And what Flora discovers will unravel everything she thought she knew – about Lucien, about her daughters, and about the night she gave them away.

A sweeping tale of wartime Paris, family secrets and impossible choices. Fans of Kate Quinn, Pam Jenoff and Kristin Hannah will be mesmerised by The Secret Dressmaker.

My Review

Although this is the second book in the Threads of Resistance series, it works perfectly well as a standalone. There is a link to my review of the first book, The Resistance Knitting Club, below.

The story begins in Northern Ireland where the main character, Flora, is recruited by the French Resistance and subsequently parachuted into Paris. Although she is sent to spy on her former lover, who is suspected of collaborating with the Nazis, she has an ulterior motive. Eighteen years previously, Flora gave birth to twin girls whom she was forced to give up, but she is determined to look for them now as one of them has gone missing.

What I loved about Flora's character was her resilience and determination. She is a strong protagonist in this story, and I think many of us will read this book and admire her. The author did a fantastic job of bringing her to life on the page through a combination of narrative and dialogue.

The story moved along at an appropriate pace for the genre, and there was something new to discover in each chapter. Ms O'Brien is a skilled storyteller, and she held my attention throughout.

There were sufficient twists and turns in the story to keep me guessing, and I hadn't anticipated some of the secrets which were revealed at the end. The book is tense and atmospheric throughout, and the author's research of the period is extensive. She knows her time period extremely well and conjures up a compelling story for her readers.

The conclusion was satisfying whilst leaving the story wide open for the next book in the series. This was an extremely enjoyable read, and I shall definitely be getting my hands on the next book in the series, The Crocheter's War, when it becomes available.

I suspect that if the author and I ever sat together over a cup of coffee, we would get on extraordinarily well. She clearly likes reading, knitting and sewing, just as I do. If she is also a dog lover, then we would probably be best friends forever! Of course, you do not need to be a knitter or sewer to enjoy her books, but if you like historical fiction with a strong storyline that features women of courage, then you will love this book.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 1837004904

Publisher: Storm Publishing

Formats: e-book, audio and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)

No. of Pages: 320 (paperback)

Series: Book 2 in the Threads of Resistance series

Purchase Links

About the Author

Jenny O’Brien writes complex thrillers and heartbreaking historical fiction, as well as intriguing romances. Silent Cry, initially self published, topped the Amazon kindle chart in both the UK and the USA. Most of her books have followed suit.

Jenny has over 40 years experience as a qualified nurse. She turned to creative writing as a hobby when her children were born. Now, 20 years later, she's retired from the day job to focus on writing. She's currently working on the third book in the Threads Series.

Born in Ireland, she now lives in Guernsey with her husband and children.

You can also find Jenny at:

The Resistance Knitting Club

Bluesky

My Other Blog Posts Featuring This Author

The Puppet Maker

(ARC and media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

(all opinions are my own)

Tuesday, 4 August 2026

Murder at Christmas by T. A. Williams - #bookreview #blogtour

My phone started ringing as Oscar and I were on our way back from an early-morning assignment. An American would have referred to what we were doing as a stakeout, but I try to avoid using that world unnecessarily, because my ever-hungry Labrador is all too familiar with the word 'steak' and I don't like to get his hopes up...

***

The Blurb

A festive gathering...

Private investigator Dan Armstrong, accompanied by his wife and his canine sidekick, Oscar, are spending the days before Christmas in a luxurious Alpine chalet tucked away in a hidden valley. It should be the perfect escape, except the owner is in fear for his life.

A house full of secrets...

Amid perfect winter wonderland scenery, the more Dan discovers about his host and the other guests, he realises that all is not as it seems. What should be a happy family party is riddled with rancour, mistrust and hatred.

A killer in the snow?

Then the snow falls – fast and heavy – and within moments, someone is dead. Accident, suicide, or murder? As the snow closes in, Dan has to work out if he's looking for a killer, or whether he and Oscar are barking up the wrong tree.

A brand new instalment in the page-turning Armstrong & Oscar cozy mystery series, this time in the snowy Italian Alps.

My Review

I have been wanting to read this series for a while now. Whilst I would usually start a series at the beginning, I was offered this book as part of the blog tour and I simply couldn't resist. This works perfectly as a standalone story and I enjoyed it very much.

It seems somewhat ironic to be reading a Christmas book during a heatwave, but I so enjoyed reading about Private Investigator Dan Armstrong and his faithful canine friend, Oscar. Call me fickle, but almost any book which has a dog on the cover has my immediate attention.

Asked by a friend to visit the house and talk to its owner, who is in fear of his life, Dan is employed to stay and look into this. There is an interesting cast of characters staying at the house, and Dan and Oscar have to investigate whether one of them is a killer.

The Italian setting of this book was gorgeous and the descriptions of the snowy scenery sounded like something from the front of a Christmas card. Gorgeous imagery alongside the claustrophobia of the snow causing the guests in the house to be trapped until the snow was cleared. Add into that scenario a potential murderer amongst the guests and you have this fabulous novel.

The author knows just how to bring his characters alive on the page. In the same way that Oscar is an excellent judge of character, as dogs so often are, and combined with Dan's intuitive yet experiential nature, I was left fully trusting the judgement of the duo.

Using both narrative and dialogue to move the story along, the pace of the book was perfect for the genre. Without doubt, the author is an excellent storyteller and this book has left me wanting more. I may well go and start at the beginning of the series now. There are sixteen other books in the series for me to enjoy, and I can't wait to get stuck in.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 1837031627

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Formats: e-book, hardback and paperback

No. of Pages: 256 (paperback)

Series: Book 17 in the Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mystery Series

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

About the Author

In his own words: I’m a man. And a pretty old man as well. I studied languages at Nottingham University a long time ago and then lived and worked in France and Switzerland before going to work in Italy for seven years. My Italian wife and I then came back to the UK with our little daughter (now long-since grown up) where I ran a big English language school for many years. We now live in a sleepy little village in Devonshire. I’ve been writing almost all my life but it was only 13 years ago that I finally managed to find a publisher who liked my work enough to offer me my first contract.

I started off writing romances but after 28 of them, I knew I wanted to try something different, and so the first of the Armstrong and Oscar cozy mysteries, Murder in Tuscany, was born three years ago. I’ve been having a lot of fun ever since getting to know the dynamic duo (and introducing them to people all over the world). These books are cosy crime [a genre I didn't even know existed when I started writing them). They are murder mysteries, but not gory, over-violent stuff, but stories designed to exercise the brain of the reader and to put a smile on their face. Maybe it’s because there are so many horrible things happening in the world today that I feel I need to do my best to provide something to cheer my readers up. My books provide escapism to some gorgeous locations all over my beloved Italy.

You can also find the author at:

Murder on the Farm by Kate Wells

My Other Blog Posts Featuring Cosy Crime

The Wonderland Murders by Millie Ravensworth

How Not to Murder Your Ex by Katie Marsh

(ARC and media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Monday, 3 August 2026

The Novel Detective by Teresa Dovalpage - #authorQ&A #blogtour

In her metafictional mystery The Novel Detective (Soho Crime, July 2026), author Teresa Dovalpage steps directly into the pages of her own story. In this candid Q&A, she discusses ghosts, the underground secrets of 1980s Havana, and what happens when a mystery writer becomes her own protagonist.

The Blurb

A metafictional mystery set in Cuba past and present about a writer returning to her long-lost hometown, seeking the truth about two suspicious deaths.

2020: Teresa, a Cuban-born mystery writer now living in America, gets an unexpected call from her childhood best friend, Estrella, inviting her to Havana. Estrella is determined to get answers about a case that has haunted them both for decades: the purported murder-suicide of a teacher and a student at their high school. Though Teresa doesn’t quite understand why Estrella is taking the story so personally, she’s along for the ride—as she always wanted to write a novel about this case.

1980: Fourteen-year-old Teresita, bespectacled, awkward and mystery novel–obsessed, is “nosy, but not a tattletale.” She knows who’s been skimming off the top of the amphetamine stash in her mother’s pharmacy, which teacher keeps cyanide in his cabinet at school and that their classmate Yoyi is sleeping with their English teacher. Over the course of one fateful day, Teresita gets closer than ever to learning the “Truth of Life”—her catchall term for the intricacies of adult existence—even if it means coming face to face with death.

Directly inspired by the author’s own childhood in Cuba and adult life in the United States, drawing upon the tradition of Latin American magical realism, this is a resonant tale at once personal and universal, full of nostalgia, candor and danger.

Welcome to the blog Teresa.

Q In the 1980 timeline, Teresita is obsessed with finding the “Truth of Life.” What does that phrase mean to a fourteen-year-old in Havana?

A Teresita is at that awkward age where she’s no longer a child, but not yet an adult. For her, the “Truth of Life” is the secret code that adults use to navigate a world that she finds full of contradictions. It’s about understanding why a classmate meets with a teacher in a “tunnel of love” and discovering how enjoyable (or icky, as it turns out to be) it is to kiss a boy for the first time. Plus living in 1980 Cuba, she needs to understand how the world actually works once the revolutionary anthems stop playing.

Q The book is described as metafictional. How does your perspective as a real-life mystery writer influence the way the fictional Teresa approaches the investigation?

A It adds a layer of creative self-consciousness. The adult Teresa is investigating a crime while thinking about how the case would work as a literary plot. She’s analyzing clues like a mystery writer, looking for hidden reasons and character arcs, even as real-world Havana throws her curveballs that don’t fit into a neat three-act structure. It’s a story about a writer investigating a detective story, which allowed me to play with all the tropes of the genre.

Q We meet Teresita’s childhood best friend, Estrella, in both timelines. What role does she play in pushing the story forward?

A Estrella is the ultimate catalyst. While teenage Teresita is the observer, Estrella is the one who takes things personally, gets into fights and acts out. In 1980, she’s the rebellious girl joking about the school’s “mustard and ketchup” uniforms and doing Santería ceremonies to attract a boy she likes. In the modern timeline, she’s the one who pulls Teresa back to the crime scene and asks her to find out what really happened. Every detective needs a partner who provides the emotional stakes, and for Teresa, that’s always been Estrella.

Q Teresita knows some dangerous secrets, like who is stealing amphetamines in the pharmacy where her mother works and the affair between a teacher and a student. How much of this was a reality for students in Cuba back then?

A When a society is highly monitored, the underground thrives. Growing up, things like black-market jeans, diverted pharmacy supplies, inflated grades, and banned Beatles songs were just part of daily life. We had a saying back then: “Whatever is not prohibited is compulsory.” I wanted The Novel Detective to capture that exact tension. Behind the facade of perfect socialist behavior demanded by teachers like Irma, absolutely everyone had a secret they were desperate to protect.

Q What do you hope readers take away from your specific blend of Cuban nostalgia and atmospheric mystery?

A I hope readers see that nostalgia isn’t always sunny. You can miss the place you grew up while still acknowledging the shadows that lurked there. I wanted to portray a Havana that is still beautiful, but one that is also crumbling and facing immense shortages and hardships. Ultimately, I want readers to walk away feeling like they’ve spent time in the Manzana de Gómez, both as tourists in a luxury hotel, and as students who know exactly where the “tunnels of love” lead.

Thank you so much for being on the blog today, Teresa.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 1641298285

Publisher: Soho Crime

Formats: e-book and hardback

No. of Pages: 333 (hardback)

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

About the Author

Teresa Dovalpage is the author of fourteen novels, four collections of short stories in English and Spanish, and four theatre plays. Her Havana Mystery series, published by Soho Crime, began with Death Comes in through the Kitchen (2018). Subsequent novels include Queen of Bones (2019) named by NBC News as one of the ten best books by and about Latinos of the year; Death of a Telenovela Star (2020); Death under the Perseids (2021), and Last Seen in Havana (2024) which Sarah Weinman praised in The New York Times for exploring “how familial bonds can fray, yet manage to hold steady, across the decades.” Last Seen in Havana was also an Amazon Editor’s Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense. The Novel Detective is a metafictional mystery inspired by the author’s own childhood in Cuba and adult life in the United States.

You can also find Teresa at:

(media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Friday, 31 July 2026

Books I Read in July 2026

As we wave goodbye to July, I am looking back at the books I have read this month. It has been a good month for reading. I guess the heatwaves we've been experiencing have meant that some days it has been too hot to do anything but sit and read.

How has your reading been this month?

Mothertongue by Alex Morgan

This memoir by autistic author, Alex Morgan was a 5 star read for me. You can read my full review by clicking here.

The Santorini Writing Retreat by Eva Glyn

I enjoyed reading this so much and the review will be up as soon as I can find a gap in the blog diary. It loosely follows on her previous book, The Dubrovnik Book Club, and you can find the review here.

House of Twisted Shadows by J.H. Mann

This book is an exciting story which I enjoyed reading. You can read my full review by clicking here.

The Freshman Parents by Ko Porteous

This was a wonderful book to read and I enjoyed every page. You can read my full review by clicking here.

Indie in Disguise by Katie Clapham

This is a delightful book aimed at both girls and boys who enjoy imaginative play. You can read my full review by clicking here.

Wedded to Her Enemy Knight by Lissa Morgan

Lissa Morgan is my favourite author of this type of historical fiction. You can read my full review by clicking here.

Be Patient by Tilly Rose

This is a memoir which is well worth reading. The review will be coming very soon.

Fiona and the Forgotten Piano by Kate DeMaio

This is a lovely middle grade novel which I enjoyed reading and is about an eleven year old girl who hates her piano lessons. You can read my full review by clicking here.

The Anniversary by Andrea Bajani

This slim book of just 144 pages is quite remarkable. Translated from Italian by Geoffrey Brock, it tells the story of the narrator's estrangement from his parents. You can read my full review by clicking here.

Vengeance is Mine by Michael Wood

I highly recommend this for lovers of mystery/thrillers. You can read my full review by clicking here.

Ghosts by Dolly Alderton

This was a wonderful book to read and my review will be up very soon.

The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer

I finished this one late last night so no review up as yet. It was a fun read which I enjoyed.

(all opinions are my own)

Thursday, 30 July 2026

A Strange & Terrible Wonder by Nichole Louise - #coverreveal

I am so excited to be part of the cover reveal for this book today. Let me tell you a little about the book, which is due for release on 18th of August...

The Blurb

𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐞, 𝐝𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐤𝐞’𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝗪𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞, 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭, 𝐲𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝’𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐲. 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐨 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞. 𝐇𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡...⁣

⁣Blending 16th century science, occult, and the impacts of early colonialism, A Strange and Terrible Wonder by Nicole Louise, reimagines what became of the Lost Colony. Look for it on August 18th!⁣

Nicole Louise

You can find Nicole at: