Left on the Shelf

About the Author

Meg Shaffer is the USA Today bestselling author of The Wishing Game, which was a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist, a Book-of-the-Month finalist for Book of the Year, a #1 Barnes & Noble bestseller, and a Reader’s Digest Best Book of the Year.

She holds an MFA in TV and Screenwriting from Stephens College. Her second novel, the instant national bestseller The Lost Story, is available now from Ballantine.

Shaffer lives in Kentucky with her husband and two cats. The cats are not writers.

You can also find Meg at:

(media courtesy of the author)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Wednesday, 19 August 2026

The Santorini Writing Retreat by Eva Glyn - #bookreview

The Blurb

Three women, one writing retreat, endless possibilities…

Bestselling author Jessica Rose needs to escape from a terrible secret that’s robbed her of her creativity. Could leading a retreat on a gorgeous Greek island be just what she needs?

Coming home to Santorini was never in Zina’s plans, but now she’s determined to make her new business a success.

And then there’s Karmela, who just wants to write her book and make her mother proud.

In the heat of their Greek island paradise, these new friends find the courage to shape their own stories, and write endings they can all be proud of…

My Review

When I read The Dubrovnik Book Club earlier this year, I just knew that I would want to read the next in the series as soon as possible. I am so glad that I did as I loved this book as much as the first one.

Although it is the second in the Bookish Escape series, it is very much a standalone novel. One of the characters from the first book, Karmela, is the main character in this one and it was lovely to spend more time with her.

The chapters were told from the perspective of the three main characters: Karmela, Jo and Zina. Three very different women who form a strong bond and help one another to deal with the challenges they are faced with. There are secrets in their lives which the reader is privy to but which are only revealed to one another as the novel progresses.

The setting of the book was beautiful; the titular Santorini was just wonderful to immerse myself in. The author did a great job of creating the environment and thus, the book was atmospheric and I soaked up the beauty of Greece whilst reading.

Anyone who enjoys a bit of escapism in their reading material will love this. Coupled with the story of strong women who form a tight-knit friendship, it makes this a novel well worth reading.

Thank you to my wonderful local library for sourcing me a copy of this. I am now very keen to read the next book in the series, The Croatian Island Library.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 0008648138

Publisher: One More Chapter

Formats: e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages: 368 (paperback)

Series: Book 2 in the Bookish Escape series

Purchase Links

About the Author

Eva Glyn writes escapist relationship-driven fiction with a kernel of truth at its heart. She loves to travel and finds inspiration in beautiful places and the stories they hide.

Set mainly in Croatia, her contemporary stories are more about friendship than romance, the coming together of people through shared interests, and the opportunity to make fresh starts in their lives. A love of books is a common theme too, so her publisher, One More Chapter, has christened them the Bookish Escapes collection which currently includes The Dubrovnik Book Club, and The Santorini Writing Retreat, with The Croatian Island Library to be published in January 2026.

In addition Eva has written two Second World War dual timeline romances, An Island of Secrets and The Collaborator’s Daughter, and a new beginnings novel entitled The Olive Grove. All are set in Croatia, a country she loves.

Although she considers herself Welsh, Eva lives in Cornwall with the man she met and fell in love with more than thirty years ago. She also writes as Jane Cable.

You can also find Eva at:

The Croatian Library Cover Reveal

My Other Blog Posts Featuring This Author

The DuBrovnik Book Club - Book Review

(media courtesy of the author's website)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Thursday, 13 August 2026

The One Where They Fall in Love by Cristina Wolf - #bookreview #blogtour

This cannot be said enough: Living in New York City in your twenties is nothing like Friends makes it out to be. Really, nothing about being in your twenties is how Friends made it out to be. I'm thirty years old, and I have not had an all-consuming romance like Ross and Rachel...

***

I am required to make it clear at the beginning of my reviews that I received this book for free from Rachel's Random Resources. I have not been paid for doing this and all opinions are my own. I am Bookshop.org affiliated, which means I earn a very small amount of money if you buy from there using my direct link. Although I include purchase links to Amazon, I am not affiliated with them. I include them to make it easy for you to navigate to them if you so wish.

***

The Blurb

You never know when love may come knocking…

Hopeless romantic and romance editor Elle Thompson lives for happy endings—but real-life love? Not so much. But that doesn’t mean she isn’t thrilled when her best friend gets engaged. Really. Not jealous at all.

Meanwhile, Oliver Cole likes things a certain way. Schedules and routines and order. So when his move back to New York is disrupted with the unwelcome addition of Thor—the dog his sister adopted for him—he’s less than enthused. Even less enthused than Oliver? His neighbour, Elle.

When Elle can’t bear to hear Thor howling all night, the two agree to strike a deal: she’ll dog-sit while he’s on shift.

But what starts as a reluctant arrangement soon turns into late-night chats, sizzling chemistry, and two lonely hearts daring to let each other in.

My Review

I absolutely loved the slow burn of friendship, later followed by desire between the two main characters in this book.

Elle and Oliver are neighbours. They meet when Elle is shocked by the noises coming from Oliver's flat above hers, where he has left his dog alone for hours. Full of indignation, Elle confronts Oliver, resulting in them sharing care of the dog, Thor.

The chapters are told from both Elle's and Oliver's perspectives, and I really liked this about the story. We can see how they are both dealing with life, both professionally and personally, and the challenges that they both face. As understanding of themselves and of one another grows, we observe this wonderful friendship blossoming into something more.

I found both Elle and Oliver easy to engage with, and the author does an excellent job of bringing them alive on the page. I felt very invested in their story, and I found myself wanting to get back to this book when life forced me to put it down for a while.

Through both narrative and dialogue, the storyline moves along nicely. It is a fast and entertaining read which I enjoyed enormously.

I haven't read anything by this author before, but I shall be seeking out her other books. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy romantic comedy with a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers trope.

Publishing today, this book is worth getting your hands on.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 1035915392

Publisher: Aria

Formats: e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages: 288 (paperback)

Purchase Links

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)

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

My Other Blog Posts Featuring This Author

The Puppet Maker

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

(all opinions are my own)

Friday, 12 June 2026

Dwell by Rue Baldry - #bookreview

January 1919

Term has barely started when the blizzard blows in. For three days nothing except snow moves in the grounds. On the fourth day a young man appears on the front drive...

***

I am required to make it clear at the beginning of my reviews that I received this book for free from the publisher. I have not been paid for doing this and all opinions are my own. I am Bookshop.org affiliated, which means I earn a very small amount of money if you buy from there using my direct link. Although I include purchase links to Amazon, I am not affiliated with them. I include them to make it easy for you to navigate to them if you so wish.

***

The Blurb

For a while they are within a painting, both openly staring, with the only movement the glittering of dust motes. Light halos the marble-white figure on the floor, burnishing his hair, sharpening his features with shadows...

January 1919. A new gardener at a snowbound boys' boarding school catches everyone's attention. It's rumoured he is a war hero. He's nineteen-year-old Albert, haunted by Great War experiences and figting the temptation of one particular prefect. What they want is illegal.

Being caught would ruin them. Then Albert's past finds him, making teir quest for a place where love can safely dwell look impossible.

My Review

This was a fabulous book and I enjoyed it very much.

The author has crafted her novel in a way that made it a joy to read. It is beautifully written. She hasn't wasted a word and has placed each with care, thought and precision.

It features two young men in the immediate aftermath of World War One. Eighteen year old Edgar is a pupil at Whitethorne Boarding School in January 1919 when he notices the new gardener. Albert is nineteen years old and just back from his time in the trenches, both young men subtly observe one another and feel an instant attraction. However, both know that acting on their desire could end in imprisonment for gross indecency and shame on their families.

The novel is slowly paced, which was perfect for this book. In fact, I found myself slowing down my reading so that I could appreciate every word that went into creating this novel and also because I didn't want it to end. It's very rare that I come upon a book that makes me feel as though I want to continue to read it forever, but this one definitely had that effect on me.

It deals with issues of love, healing and the aftermath of a war which virtually killed an entire generation of young men. It also addresses class, homosexuality and trauma, but the author does this compassionately and sensitively. The lyrical narrative mean that the words flow from the page and had me completely mesmerised by her story and writing.

Furthermore, when I did reach the end I was surprised by the way it finished. I thought I had worked out how the author would conclude her book, but I was completely wrong. This in itself was refreshing.

As a debut novel this is remarkable and a huge accomplishment for a first-time author. If this book is anything to judge by, then we can look forward to future work from this Ms. Baldry.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 1917005401

Publisher: Northodox Press

Formats: e-book and paperback

No. of Pages: 336 (paperback)

Purchase Links

About the Author

Rue Baldry is an author of novels and short stories. Her novel, Dwell, will be published by Northodox Press in February 2026 and her short story collection, Nice Things, will be published by Fly On The Wall Press in December 2026.

She was born in 1969, the year of Woodstock, the Stonewall riots and the moon landings, and raised in Essex in the UK, and Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania. In 1988 she moved to York to study English Literature, fell in love with the city, and with the man she married in 1992. She is still living here with him. They now have five children, who are all adults. She has a BA in English Literature from the University of York and an MA in Literary Theory and Creative Writing from the University of Leeds.

You can also find Rue at:

(ARC and media courtesy of the publisher/author)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Tuesday, 9 June 2026

Lisa Doyle is Absolutely Fine by Mo Fanning - #bookreview

Lisa Doyle's father left her two things: a battered blue armchair, and his talent for making a terrible situation catastrophically worse...

***

I am required to make it clear at the beginning of my reviews that I received this book for free from the author. I have not been paid for doing this and all opinions are my own. I am Bookshop.org affiliated, which means I earn a very small amount of money if you buy from there using my direct link. Although I include purchase links to Amazon, I am not affiliated with them. I include them to make it easy for you to navigate to them if you so wish.

***

The Blurb

Lisa Doyle is fine. Absolutely fine.

At least, that's the story she's been telling herself.

Her best friend is getting married. Everyone around her seems to have a partner, a plan, and a life that makes sense. Lisa, meanwhile, has four glasses of wine in her, a talent for making bad situations worse, and a growing sense of being left behind.

So she does what any sensible woman in a crisis would do. She announces that she's engaged.

There is only one problem.

Brian does not exist.

Now Lisa needs a fiancé before the wedding, her actor flatmate is far too willing to get involved, and the real Brian, who is very much married and very much her boss, is starting to look at her in ways that suggest this lie may have got seriously out of hand.

Warm, witty, and painfully recognisable, Lisa Doyle is Absolutely Fine is a grown-up romantic comedy about love, pressure, friendship, and the exhausting performance of holding everything together when you're quietly falling apart.

My Review

I enjoyed reading this wonderful romantic comedy very much.

The main character, the titular Lisa Doyle, was wonderful and was easy to relate to. Feeling as though she is the only one not getting married, one drunken evening Lisa posts on her social media that she is engaged to Brian. However, Brian doesn't exist and it is also the name of her boss. What follows is some very funny and poignant narrative which kept my attention throughout the novel.

It was so easy to empathise with Lisa. The reader realises that her actions are the result of loneliness and my heart went out to her. However, she digs herself into a deeper hole when her actor flatmate, Andy, assumes the role of the nonexistent Brian and is introduced to her family and friends; not forgetting on her social media.

The author has created a wonderful cast of characters in this book. The minor characters are just as charming, and I adored Lisa's family and friends.

It is obvious from the beginning that Lisa's lie is going to blow up in her face at some point and, when it does, I loved the way the author allowed those close to her to treat her with kindness, understanding and compassion.

The book had a fun premise which completely delivered. This isn't the first novel that I have read by this author. There is a link to my review of his book, Rainbows and Lollipops, at the bottom of this post.

This was a fabulous book which I highly recommend. Publishing on 18th June, it is worth getting your hands on a copy. It is perfect for readers of Mhairi McFarlane, Beth O'Leary, and Marian Keyes.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 1068394720

Publisher: Spring Street Books

Formats: e-book, audio, hardback and paperback

No. of Pages: 344 (paperback)

Preorder Links

Direct From the Author

About the Author

Mo has always believed stories can do two things at once: make you laugh and make you feel less alone. That’s what he tries to do on every page that he writes.

He didn’t grow up planning to be a novelist — but he grew up needing books. They were his escape, his company, and his way of making sense of the world. Now, he gets to create those escapes for other people. His novels explore love, loss, friendship, and the messy, hopeful business of being human.

At the heart of it all is a simple promise: even in life’s toughest moments, there’s humour, there’s connection, and there’s always a glimmer of light. That’s the world he writes about, and he's thrilled to be sharing it with others.

You can also find Mo at:

Other Blog Posts Featuring This Author

Rainbows and Lollipops

(ARC and media courtesy of the author)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Friday, 5 June 2026

The Drowned Siren by Callisto Lodwick - #bookreview

12.5 hours after the party

The reporters arrive a few hours after the police. They swarm onto the street of the town like cockroaches, rushing around with their shining, shell-like cameras.

***

The Blurb

She was driven by success.

Now, she’s driven by obsession.

After years of being viewed as plain and boring, university student Eleanor is thrilled when the beautiful Cheyenne notices her and starts showering her with attention.

Soon, the lines between friendship and love become blurred, at least for Eleanor.

Until she realises that Cheyenne’s love isn’t unconditional … Years later, Eleanor’s life has changed completely.

After moving to LA to pursue her dreams, she now lives mostly in isolation.

Her days are spent locked up in her hotel suite, dreaming up revenge fantasies.

As her past and present collide, Eleanor is forced to ask the question she dreads most: what happens when your darkest fantasies become reality?

My Review

This was a gripping read that kept me hooked throughout.

Eleanor has always been friendless, but when she arrives at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, she hopes she will make friends. However, it is not until she stumbles across Cheyenne, a student from LA in America who is glamorous and popular, that she begins to feel she has a friend. However, just as Eleanor revels in being accepted, Cheyenne shrugs her off like an old coat.

This rejection is central to the whole story and the author enables the reader to really get under the skin of her main character, and we are able to witness the obsession and her need for revenge.

In fact, even when Eleanor finds career success, she is totally consumed by her need for revenge. She is unable to shake off the rejection even when she finds acceptance elsewhere. The author has created a fascinating character who leaps off the page. She possesses a dark and narcissistic personality which completely pulled me into her story.

The narrative begins twelve and a half hours before a party. The timeline soon shifts to three years and eight months before the party. We then move back and forth across those time periods, but at no point did I find this confusing. The reader knows that something devastating will happen at the party, but it is only as we progress through the book that it becomes apparent.

This was a very atmospheric book which had a dark and pernicious undertone running throughout. It has twists and turns aplenty and a narrative that kept me hooked.

Although the main character was unlikable, I was gripped by how this story was going to play out. Usually, I like to identify with the main character of a book, and whilst this wasn't the case with Eleanor, I could empathise with her rejection and desire to be loved. Her inner rage oozed from the pages and culminated in an extremely well-written novel which will appeal to readers.

This was a fabulous novel and will appeal to those who enjoy a dark story with an unreliable narrator. I highly recommend it.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 1917415187

Publisher: Datura

Formats: e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages: 336 (paperback)

Purchase Links

About the Author

Callisto Lodwick was born in New Jersey, then lived for many years in Switzerland and San Francisco, finally settling in England. She is currently studying English Literature and Classics at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. She has been a finalist in Building U’s $1000 for 1000 Words, Peninsula Library Systems’ YANovCon and the Layla Beben Writing Contest.

You can also find Callisto at:

(ARC and media courtesy of the publisher)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Tuesday, 2 June 2026

Hot Food Nice! by Michael Rosen & Illustrated by Neal Layton - #bookreview

When I was a boy, I thought my dad knew everything...

***

The Blurb

Young Michael thinks his dad knows everything. But then one day, one terrible day, he found that his dad does NOT know everything: this is how it goes. They sit down to eat, and the potato’s a bit hot. Michael knows to blow on it to cool it down before eating it. His brother knows it, and his mum knows it. So why does his dad pop it straight into this mouth? And what happens next? A funny slice of family life, told in irresistible repetitive text, that will delight young and old alike.

My Review

This has come from Michael Rosen's book of Nice poems.

I have a soft spot for any work by this author as I remember how much my children and I enjoyed sharing his poems when they were young. Happy days. Now, I have the joy of sharing them with my grandchildren too. They will absolutely love this picture book.

As always, the author has written a poem whereby he understands how children think. The overgrown child in me laughed out loud while I read this poem. Michael Rosen captures the spirit of the child in his words.

It has been beautifully illustrated by Neal Layton in a simple design which really add something to the text. The bright colours will appeal to young children and I could almost feel the heat emanating from the illustrations of his pile of hot potato.

This lovely picture book deserves to be in every home and school library. I highly recommend it.

UPDATE: I recently spent a weekend with two of my grandchildren who are 2 and 4 years old. I lost count of how many times they asked me to read this book to them. A wonderful book for sharing.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 1529530223

Publisher: Walker Books

Formats: e-book and paperback

No. of Pages: 32 (paperback)

Purchase Links

About the Author

Michael Rosen is a multi-award-winning poet, a popular radio broadcaster, distinguished critic and academic, and one of the most popular authors for children. He has written over 200 books in a career spanning over five decades, including the internationally bestselling We're Going on a Bear Hunt, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury.

His poems, about family life, childhood and a good deal of silliness, have reached millions through his exuberant online readings. In 2026 he won the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award for writing (the first UK winner for 16 years), as well as a British Book Award for Best Children's Illustrated & Non-Fiction Book of the Year for his new collaboration with Helen Oxenbury, Oh Dear, Look What I Got!

Michael was the Children’s Laureate from 2007 to 2009, and is now Professor of Children’s Literature at Goldsmiths, University of London.

You can also find Michael at:

About the Illustrator

Born in Chichester, multi award-winning author and Illustrator Neal Layton works on a plethora of publications for children from his treasure-filled studio in the Isle of Wight.

A former student at Newcastle and Central St Martins, Neal has become an avid collector and compulsive scribbler, deftly combining a multitude of styles and techniques in colour and black and white, from pen and ink to collage and digital methods creating fresh and spontaneous illustrations for fiction, non-fiction and novelty books. With a clutch of awards under his belt including the prestigious Sheffield Children’s Book Prize Neal has been lucky enough to collaborate with some of the country’s best loved authors including Nicola Davies, Cressida Cowell, Andy Stanton and Michael Rosen.

Neal is extremely passionate about conservation and inclusivity and this shines through in many of his recent author-illustrated publications. Well versed in discussing and demonstrating his work, Neal takes part in a variety of events including large scale festivals and conferences.

Amazing Fact – Neal Layton is also an extreme skateboarder.

You can also find Neal at:

The Tour at School (Because You're the New Kid!) by Katie Clapham

Other Blog Posts Featuring Picture Books

L is for Love by Atinuke

Not Pop Pop by Angela De Groot

(book and media courtesy of Walker Books)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Thursday, 28 May 2026

The Relentless Lady by Eva Harris - #bookreview #blogtour

Francesca's Barbie-themed birthday party was the happiest day of her young life. The humble neighborhood kids envied her, her parents' sacrifices made it perfect, and she felt like a princess...

***

The Blurb

With a modern mindset trapped in a traditional world, will this young Brazilian woman discover a path to education, travel, and love?

In Brazil during the early 2000s, Francesca Silva craved more. Born into a family struggling financially and bound by her father’s rigid religious beliefs, the smart dreamer longs for a brighter future. So, when fate delivers a handsome American missionary, Francesca opens her heart and rebels against her traditional machismo culture.

More determined than ever to expand her mind, the naïve woman battles familial expectations amid eye-opening foreign customs. But with domestic drama, romantic complications, and a language barrier, the go-getter fears that more than a visa and an airplane flight will prevent her from claiming her true self.

Can Francesca embrace her destiny and find enduring fulfillment?

The Relentless Lady is the enthralling first book in the Relentless Lady women’s fiction series. Those who love tenacious heroines in real-world settings and finding enlightenment will adore Eva Harris’ emotional tale.

My Review

I read this book as part of the blog tour, and whilst it was an interesting read set in Brazil, I had mixed feelings about the book as a whole.

The main character, Francesca, is unlike the other girls she knows. She is ambitious and intends to find a way to travel and leave Brazil. She is a strong woman and this is her story of how she set about achieving her aim. I enjoyed reading about how she wasn't prepared to settle for the life of other young Brazilian women. Marriage and children were the only route for a young woman to take at the time, and it was great to read of a woman who wasn't prepared to settle for the norm.

Reading about Brazil and its customs and traditions was wonderful. I enjoyed that aspect of the novel and was fully engaged with those parts.

The book is based on fact and it certainly read as a personal story. However, at times I felt that the narrative and dialogue were a little flat, and while I found Francesca admirable in her determination, I didn't feel that she leapt off the page to drag me into her story.

The book concludes with a cliffhanger and encouragement to read the next book.

Book Details

ISBN: 979 8255237586

Publisher: Independently published

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

No. of Pages: 299 paperback

Purchase Links

About the Author

Eva Harris is a women’s fiction author who writes emotionally rich stories about identity, resilience, and the quiet courage it takes to choose your own life.

Born and raised in Brazil, Eva draws deeply from lived experience to explore themes of cultural displacement, faith, gender expectations, immigration, and forbidden love. Her novels often center on strong, imperfect women navigating rigid traditions, financial hardship, and emotional crossroads as they search for independence, belonging, and meaning beyond the limits imposed upon them.

Eva’s writing blends intimate character development with real-world social issues, creating stories that resonate with readers who love coming-of-age journeys, cross-cultural relationships, and transformative self-discovery. Her work speaks especially to women who have felt out of place—at home, in love, or in the world—and dared to imagine more.

Besides writing, Eva enjoys learning about human behaviour, exploring different cultures, and turning real-life struggles into stories that offer both hope and honesty.

The Relentless Lady is her debut novel and the first in a women’s fiction series inspired by true events.

You can also find Eva at:

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

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Wednesday, 27 May 2026

I Followed the Rules by Joanna Bolouri - #bookreview

He's late. He's half an hour late.

I nervously tuck my hair behind my ears and continue scrolling on my smartphone. That's all right, I tell myself; people are late all the time. Maybe they're not HALF AN HOUR LATE on a first date, but he's obviously been held up...

***

The Blurb

My friends think I'm insane, I'm stalking men all over town, and I'm on a deadline.

High-flying journalist Cat Buchanan has been single for six years. So she's sceptical when assigned to write a story on The Rules of Engagement, a book which promises to teach women how to find the man of their dreams in ten easy steps.

As far as Cat's concerned, the book belongs in 1892, but she's promised to follow it to the letter. After all, what does she have to lose by playing love at its own game?

My Review

This book was really good fun to read and I enjoyed it immensely.

The main character, Cat, is a single mum and journalist who writes under a pseudonym of The Glasgow Girl. In her column she discusses the disaster that is her love life. When a colleague tells her about a book called The Rules of Engagement, which details a man's view of the successful rules of dating, her Editor suggests she gives the rules a try and write about it in her column. What follows is the cynical and hilarious journey of Cat navigating her way through this list of rules... to a copy deadline.

Cat was a great character. The author developed her on the page really well and I found myself rooting for her every step of the way. She is wonderfully plain spoken and easy to relate to.

It's well written and paced for it's genre. It has an enemies to lovers trope that was irresistible. It was pure escapism and I loved it for that.

This was an entertaining and run read which made me chuckle throughout. It made for quick and easy reading and I enjoyed it from the first page to the last.

I now can't wait to read the author's previous and debut novel, The List.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 1784291075

Publisher: Quercus

Formats: e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages: 352 (paperback)

Purchase Links

About the Author

Joanna Bolouri was born in Portsmouth, but grew up in Glasgow where she currently lives with her daughter. Her initial leap into writing came when she won a BBC comedy writing competition with a script that formed the basis of her first novel, The List.

She has since worked on a live sketch show with TV production company Kudos/Brown Eyed Boy. She writes and blogs for various publications including Huffington Post UK, The Scottish Sun, Hecklerspray, The Skinny, and Sabotage Times and has also written for Newsjack on BBC Radio 4E.

You can also find Joanna at:

The New Normal by Michelle Paris

Other Blog Posts for Books About Dating

Stoic in Love: Ancient wisdom to make dating, domestic boredom and breakups a bit less terrible by Annie Lawson

Floored by Chrissie Harrison

Love or Your Money Back by Suzy K. Quinn

(ARC courtesy of Netgalley)

(author media courtesy of Susanna Lea Associates)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Tuesday, 26 May 2026

Summer Nights at Hillview Farm by Margaret Amatt - #bookreview #blogtour

Adele had just reached the end of the secondary five records and was cross-referencing projected exam results with behaviour notes when her eyes landed on the date at the top of her planner...

***

The Blurb

Some rules were made to be broken… especially when it comes to love.

After a tragedy left her heart shattered, deputy headteacher Adele Robson has rebuilt her life in Glenbriar, keeping her grief hidden behind a polished, no-nonsense exterior.

Rugged farmer Owen Lyndell is having a hard time with his wayward teenage son Max, and the summer holidays at Hillview Farm aren’t going well.

Term-time clashes over Max have made Adele and Owen loathe each other, so discovering her new dream cottage is next door to Owen’s farm is unwelcome news, especially when she’s finally built up the courage to carry out the summer bucket list she and her late fiancé dreamed of. And when Owen shows up accidentally during one of her bucket-list activities, they start to see a different side to each other.

Between horse riding, wild swimming, and sunsets over Loch Briar, both Owen and Adele have a chance to rediscover love. But only if Adele can overcome her past heartbreak… plus the immovable fact that she's Max’s teacher, and when summer ends, she and Owen must return to a professional relationship.

But perhaps the last item on the bucket list is one already written in the stars.

My Review

Although this book is part of a series, each book works as a standalone story. This book made for lovely reading and I enjoyed it very much.

The chapters are told from two different perspectives: Adele, who is deputy headteacher at a nearby school, and Owen, who is the father of Max, a student who tests Adele's patience every day. When Adele moves into a new home following the death of her fiancé, she is shocked to find that Owen is her nearest neighbour.

However, outside of the school setting, they see and appreciate one another in a different way and it's not too long before the chemistry between them becomes apparent.

This is a lovely enemies-to-lovers story and is set in a small Scottish town. The setting was perfect for this story, and was an enchanting setting for the author to place her characters.

The book deals with themes such as second chances, healing and moving on. Although grief figures in the story, it is not even remotely maudlin.

The book has a predictable ending which was perfect for this story. It was clear from the very beginning that this was the likeliest outcome. If you like a beautiful setting with relatable characters and a little spice thrown into the mix, then you will love this story as much as I did.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 1914575136

Publisher: Leannan Press

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

No. of Pages: 363 (paperback)

Series: Book 18 in the Glenbriar series

Purchase Links