These Empty Places - Sarah Loudin Thomas

Claire Roth turned away from her first love to maintain a life of comfort and wealth. Although she loved her late husband and adores her daughter she sometimes wonders what the lost 'treasure' her first love left for her actually is. 

Lena Hawkins, on the other hand, marries the man who sweeps her off of her feet. She was a socialite from a wealthy family. He was from a poor background, but has done well speculating on the stock market. Then came the financial crash. Lena and Preston are penniless and living in a hovel before Preston manages to find work and housing thanks to his brother. Things start, very slowly, to look up for the Hawkins, and when they find an abandoned home to live in, Lena starts to enjoy making it 'hers'. But Preston's constant determination to be 'on top of the top' at all costs no matter how he gets there has devastating results...

This is a clever look at what real treasure looks like, as well as having lots to say in mostly quiet ways about both friendship and love. Lena ends up working for Claire, a lady who would have been her peer rather than her employer in her previous life, before her marriage estranged her from her wealthy parents. Their working relationship doesn't take long to move to friendship, and conversations about life and love. 'Love isn't always easy, is it?' says Lena. 'Almost never,' Claire agrees. 'Not if you're doing it right.'

And love certainly isn't easy for Lena. The up-and-coming, charismatic man she married isn't the man she deals with when their fortunes are low. He is unpredictable and sometimes hostile. Even in the pages of a book, he sometimes scared me and often infuriated me. He is proud in a dangerous way. He dislikes Lena working, even though they desperately need her wage, and he doesn't like her finding a friend as well as an employer in Claire. He is constantly focussed on getting to the top and being rich and routinely expects that Lena will meekly do what he expects of her when he has 'made it'. He rarely actually listens to what Lena says, or takes the time to see what her heart really wants. When he is finally making more money and is able to move them to a smarter home, he still disregards Lena’s own hopes and dreams and assumes what she wants rather than actually asking her.

Claire says of her late husband George: 'Love, she'd realised, was a choice to be made' and she made it (Claire’s story - told in the book - is lovely), but it is clear again and again that it is a choice which Lena has to make too, and it is not easy. I liked the fact that she did not just run into Preston's arms again, even when I was irritated that he expected her to! That said, Lena doesn't always make the best choices herself and she spends a lot of time crying and being angry. I totally understand why she would rightly be angry, and I would probably also cry! But there do seem to be quite a few scenes where she is 'sobbing'.

Getting past my dislike of Preston (which is counterbalanced somewhat by my liking for John Bellamy and his quiet wisdom) took a long time, and it was lucky that there are so many other much more likeable characters in the book! The setting is also very beautifully described. And I liked the way all the various threads were tied up, although I personally felt the epilogue was surplus to requirements and felt awkward, unnecessary and a bit sad. 

This is up there with the author’s earlier richly told historical novels. She  has a gift for creating multilevel stories around lesser-known historical events, in this case the loss of Lake Toxaway due to the failure of the earth dam in 1916 and the impact on the resort and local people. It’s a great book club option on what real treasure is, with an excellent set of reading group questions at the end.

I read a pre-publication version supplied by the publisher. No review was required. All comments and opinions above are entirely my own.

A Mismatch Made in London - Melanie Dickerson

I really enjoyed this Regency romance from Melanie Dickerson. It is a vibrant read with sparkling leading and supporting characters. Mrs Kendall, Amelia's aunt, is especially enjoyable in her role as someone who often unintentionally causes problems for her niece in ways any fan of classic Regency fiction will recognise! Amelia's friendship with Juliet is lovely, and the kind of friendship many readers would wish for. And it gives Jeremy the chance to be 'brooding and handsome' in abundance! I was completely smitten and found myself picking up this book to read it whenever I could find a spare moment. 

I highly recommend this for anyone needing to escape into a genuinely sweeping historical romance. It would have got a five star rating  but for the appearance of the dreaded 'gotten', which NO English lady would have said in the Regency era. Nor do we say 'a brisk run on a good horse'. In England we don't refer to horses as 'running', except in races. We would say 'a good gallop on a fast horse' or something similar. And why on EARTH is an English gentleman suddenly saying 'to be sure'?! These are minor points in the overall scheme of things though and I enjoyed this far too much to be put off by a few snafus. (Which are unlikely to affect most of the American primary readership.)

Well-written, witty, energetic, enjoyable and engaging, this is a wonderful story with which to while away a few pleasant reading hours.

NOTE: I read a pre-publication version supplied by the publisher. No review was required. All comments and opinions above are entirely my own.

Chase the Light - Suzanne Woods Fisher

There is a LOT going on in this book and the character list of 'who's who' which the author includes is sometimes needed!

The three central figures are Scout Johnson, passionate about her work as a ranger in the National Park Service (NPS) and unfortunate enough be named Magnolia Pearl by her dynamic and totally different personality type mother Lucille.

Naki Dana is a Native American of the Penobscot Nation.

And then we have Chase Fletcher, who runs the Bar Harbor Gazette, a local newspaper which is barely hanging on by a thread to avoid going under. 

And so we have an awkward sort of love triangle, where Chase seems convinced that Scout is interested in him, despite myriad indications that she isn't. (Although there's one bit where he puts his arm around her and she lets him, which I found very odd, and another point where he does something which made me write 'what a nerve!' in my notes!) On the other hand Scout IS immediately but almost unwillingly attracted to Naki. 

When Scout is left behind at a remote lighthouse by irresponsible teenager Frankie, she finds a note which hints at lost treasure. This news proves impossible to keep secret, which means that Scout, Naki and Chase - with the 'help' of Frankie and Maisie (a complicated young woman who is VERY keen on Frankie despite him taking almost zero interest in her) - have to solve a series of clues to find the treasure before the park is overrun with Treasure Hunters.

I absolutely love Suzanne Woods Fisher's novels, so I was surprised to find this one a little hard to get into. My book notes read '47 pages in and I like barely anyone'! But it's worth persevering, even though Frankie's character seems to have become a million times more irritating since the opening book in the series (which, by the way, it is not essential to have read before this one, although it gives background to some of the characters in this), and Chase is doubly annoying in terms of his desperation for the Gazette and his interest in Scout. It soon feels much more like Chase is competing with Naki for Scout's interest, rather than him really being interested in her. 

Naki is an intriguing character with an interesting cultural background, and he is keeping a big secret of his own. I was completely unaware of the Penobscot Nation and I found this fascinating. The treasure hunt and its associated clues is very well done and definitely draws the reader in.  I really enjoyed this element of the story, both in terms of the clues, and the way they were solved. The descriptions of the scenery are fabulous, too - you could almost be standing there yourself. 

There are several excellent plot twists. I think I liked the last one the best! All the way through there is plenty of interest and intrigue alongside the main characters and story. Suzanne Woods Fisher is an author who writes complex, realistic and relatable characters and is not prone to making her peripheral characters 'thin' and uninteresting. In this book we have several 'supporting characters' who also have their own issues, hopes and loves which are well woven into the story in more than merely a passing way.

This is a tale with a strong message about seeing people as they are, not what you may first think about them, or how we think they should be. And it's about trying not to view them as we are ourselves, either personally or through the lens of our own cultural experience. For me, that meant learning a bit about Frankie, as well as considering these factors in real life terms. It's  a book about trust, which must be earned and cannot be assumed. It's about second (and third, and fourth) chances, reconciliation, forgiveness and family reconnection and restoration - yet without too many hearts and roses! Faith elements are strong, but appear rather randomly throughout the story.

I could have been put off of this book very early, but I'm glad I stuck with it. A brilliantly clever and entertaining 'treasure hunt' mystery, it turns out there's not merely physical gold to find between its pages.

NOTE: I read a pre-publication version supplied by the publisher. No review was required. All comments and opinions above are entirely my own.

In a Word, Yes - Kit Tosello

This is a book which earns all five of its stars effortlessly, in my humble opinion. It's perfect escapist, relaxing and completely engrossing reading which sneaks in themes of healing, renewal, faith, hope and second chances which linger well after you close the pages.

Firstly, I LOVE the mother/daughter conversations. I also love Chase, and the way his autistic challenges are written as simply being a part of who he is, rather than a condition he has to bear. Don't get me wrong, this doesn't sugar coat the fact that it's tough, but I really enjoy the way we see Chase becoming more of his 'own person', and his growing connection with people through the story is super.

This is a story which opens up in increments. We know that things are hard for Lucy and Chase, but it's a while before we know the details. And they're BIG. Equally, we know that things are shifting for Carly, and her role is very cleverly written. Initially it's easy to think of her as a distant mother, too busy with her own interests to care very much about her daughter and grandson, but we soon realise how very far from true this is.

And the way Lucy 'meets' (well, nearly meets) Wyatt is funny! There's plenty of humour through this story, but the moment at which I laughed out loud involved Carly's knee high lace up boots...! However, back to Wyatt, who is another character who is believably complex, and I do enjoy this kind of relationship building in a romance. The small-town 'cosiness' of Charity Falls works delightfully, too. I could easily imagine myself popping into one of the stores there, or visiting the Book Club. 

For a novel which generally I would recommend as an 'easy read', perfect for packing for a holiday or to dip into for a peaceful afternoon's escapism, I found it unexpectedly powerful. 'Shoudn't it be enough just to survive?' Lucy asks, in chapter one. And that 'digs' a little, as I've been asking the same thing lately. Much further in, she observes 'Just because a thing isn't easy doesn't mean it's not what we're called to.' Hmmm, that's very true, even if it takes reading a few times to sink in.

Early in the story Lucy feels 'stuck', and so, in a different way, does her mother Carly. And this story gently shows us how they each get 'unstuck'. It also teaches us in witty and thoughtful ways that first or even early impressions may be deceiving. There's a lot of Christian input in this novel, but it never feels awkward or preachy. 

I am wondering though: Can God prompt someone about getting on with writing a book on which they feel stuck, through the storyline in this book about Lucy getting stuck with her memoir? 

In a word, yes. Yes, He can.

UK Publication Date: 15 Sep 26

NOTE: I read a pre-publication version supplied by the publisher. No review was required. All comments and opinions above are entirely my own.

Though the Valley - Patricia Johns

Miri is a girl who loves cows and the farming life. Which is unfortunate since her Amish family and community is very Traditional and expect girls to marry young and be homemakers rather than getting involved in the 'outdoor' work. A view which means Miri isn't keen on the idea of being married off since she's much happier outside. 

All her hopes and dreams look as though they've come true when she very unexpectedly inherits the farm of Old Tom Yoder, for whom she's been caring for months. But Tom's son and grandsons are equally shocked. And angry. And her community and family are also unimpressed by this turn of events. Moses, Tom's grandson, is asked by the Bishop to continue helping on the farm while Miri finds her feet, but he finds himself caught between his angry family and his fledgling attraction to Miri. Miri, however, does not want to be wooed just so the Yoder family can reclaim the farm, push her away from the cows and countryside she loves and shut her into the kitchen.

I enjoyed reading this but I confess that my 'English' (in fact, my ENGLISH!) viewpoint did make me exceptionally irritated at times! I found Miri's family frustratingly annoying in their reluctance to stand behind Miri in any real way and I was shocked by the realisation of WHY, much later in the book. I felt a bit short-changed by the way Miri's story panned out, although it was very well told, and I liked both Miri and Moses in terms of their characters individual struggles and progression throughout.

At the same time, we're following Tabitha and Jonas, who seem to be playing a dangerous game in terms of their emotions and desires. Tabitha has a broken relationship behind her, but divorce is not recognised in the Amish community to which she has returned. To the members of her community, she is still bound by her marriage vows to the man who betrayed and left her. Furthermore, Jonas is engaged to another...

A well told, easy to read story, which gives lots of opportunity to consider choices, reactions, faith, legacy and how life's path has many bends. 

NOTE: I read a pre-publication version supplied by the publisher. No review was required. All comments and opinions above are entirely my own.

Twilight Tactics - Lynette Eason

I enjoy all of Lynette Eason's romantic suspense novels, and in this new series opener she ramps up the ante even more than usual.

Firstly, her romantic suspenses are quite light on the romance, which suits me as I'm more into the suspense bit than the romance. This one feels believable so far as the romance goes - apart from one moment which I won't give more details of here!

The story opens with a bang as FBI agent Collin 'Sully' Sullivan arrives at Broken Chains Ranch - just about! - with his agent partner Piper and Ollie, a teenager who is a vital witness in a murder trail. With their previous safehouses being found by those seeking to silence Ollie for good, Sully is worried about a leak in his team and he knows that Broken Chains Ranch, with its trusted staff and top notch security is their best hope for survival.

I really enjoyed this book, which is more suspense than cosy mystery. The pace barely lets up from the start and there are plenty of twists and turns. The 'prepper' community gives an unusal element to the story and is very well described. The two-story-in-one element gives plenty of 'bang for your buck' although I did ocassionally find myself getting a bit behind in the 'what, why, when, who' elements! Cleverly, although we open with one story (and that story is concluded within this book), it's the second strand which occupies much of this novel. I had my suspicions about one of the characters from early on, and although I ended up being right, this didn't diminsh the story in any way. Finding out why I was right took quite a bit longer!

Another top notch suspense romance from an author who consistently justifies her place at the top of the bestselling rankings. 

NOTE: I read a pre-publication version supplied by the publisher. No review was required. All comments and opinions above are entirely my own.

Dwell - Simon Armitage

A lovely book of poems inspired by the Lost Gardens of Helicon in Cornwall, each featuring a creature's 'dwelling place'. Some very short, like Warren and Web (which I particularly like!) and others much longer and very witty, such as the brilliant and very funny Insect Hotel. This was out and out my favourite poem in the book!

Interspersed with gorgeous illustrations by Beth Munro, this is a beautiful slim volume, perfect to dip into, or to give as a gift. My copy was a Christmas gift from a friend, and it is definitely a keeper.

Whispers at Painswick Court - Julie Klassen

Julie Klassen is one of my 'read everything she writes’ authors! She has a gift for writing interesting, believable characters, wonderful settings which you can see in your imagination’s eye as you read, dropping in interesting historical facts and details, adding nods to elements from Regency classics, and often giving a good dose of mystery too. The latter I especially appreciate, since I’ve been a big fan of cozy mysteries ever since discovering Agatha Christie’s novels while I was a schoolgirl.

Whispers at Painswick Court has all of the above, in spades! Anne Loveday has a tricky relationship with her father’s new young wife Nancy who is very eager to marry Anne off. But Anne is uninspired by her stepmother’s life of baby after baby, and misses her own mother as well as her married sister Fanny. Fanny married a kind man after her heart was broken and although her husband is clearly smitten, Fanny still frets over her lost first love. The unequal nature of her sister’s marriage is another reason why Anne wishes to avoid the married state. 

Anne escapes her family by accepting an invitation to visit an old friend in Painswick, the Cotswold town where she and her sister spent many happy summers. However, her friend has ulterior motives for inviting Anne to visit and Anne finds herself acting as a nurse to Lady Celia Fitzjohn, who lives in the large and beautiful Painswick Court with her daughter who has ‘indifferent’ health, the household staff and a mysterious maid. Lady Celia is a lady who has very strong opinions and isn’t slow in expressing them, and she is not someone upon whom Anne looks favourably, believing her to be responsible for ruining her sister’s chance of happiness by forbidding the match between Fanny and her nephew Jude, Fanny’s ‘lost love’. Nonetheless kind-hearted Anne agrees to help. 

The house is rumoured to be haunted by the ghost of Charles I. But it’s soon clear that she has more immediate and physical threats to worry about when Lady Celia is poisoned, and it appears that everything she thinks she knows about the residents of Painswick Court may not be as it seems. Then there’s the complication of her growing interest in a local doctor who has barely concealed secrets of his own.

I really enjoyed this novel. I liked the two Ann/es, and I also liked Miss Fitzjohn and her determination not to be seen as ‘frail’ – which she certainly achieves! There are lots of nice details, like the use of a goose feather in a lock to indicate ‘do not disturb’ and there are plenty of family complications, but though these are many they are not overpowering. 

There are lots of nods to Austen influences, but they never seem heavy handed and it’s fun to spot them. The mystery keeps you guessing, and the suspicions shift from person to person throughout. The house feels gothic and mysterious, with tight staircases and conversations in the shadows by candlelight. The medical elements are fascinating. (The story includes two doctors, and Anne is a surgeon-apothecary’s daughter who has learned much from her father in terms of medicines.) The romance is light, sweet and engagingly done and it was nice to see how other relationships such as those between Anne and her stepmother, sister and Lady Celia were developed throughout too. Throughout, there are quite a few reminders that things in life may not be as they appear, and we’re shown that while things may not end up being as we’d thought or dreamed, there is still beauty to be found. Oh, and I love the way Katherine's own story unfolded!

I read a pre-publication version supplied by the publisher. No review was required. All comments and opinions above are entirely my own. (And it was nice to remember an evening  dinner in Painswick last year, and the walk among the yew trees in the churchyard beforehand.)

A Sea View Christmas - Julie Klassen

I'm a sucker for Christmas stories and read them year round, which is why I read this one in February! I'm also a big fan of Julie Klassen's Regency romances, and have enjoyed the earlier books in the On Devonshire Shores series. All of which can be read individually, in case anyone worries about not having read them in order. That said, the reader will benefit from having read the earlier stories and found out more about Sarah Summers and her sisters. Especially, in relation to this book, I would recommend reading The Sisters of Sea View first, since in that book we first meet Callum Henshall and his stepdaughter Effie.

This book starts with Sarah promising her youngest sister Georgiana a Christmas to exceed all expectations, but will Sarah's own hopes and dreams come to fruition? At first it seems not - but then a little bit of Christmas magic is sprinkled into the story...

I enjoyed this story with it's large cast of captivating characters and I liked the way it wove new important relationships into the tale, as well as dealing with Sarah and Callum's romance. (This really ISN'T a spoiler!) I did at times find Sarah's endless worrying about her family and home in Sidmouth a bit frustrating, but I also understand how it's so easy not to take a risk to follow your heart and dreams because the 'stuff' that is right in front of you seems overwhelming. Sarah's journey from being the anxious 'busy, controlled, sensible sister' to learning to let go and step into something new is one which I think very many readers will relate to. I liked the way that Sarah's family, especially her mother, helped her to break free of her self-imposed limitations, and I liked the light faith touches which are perfect for the book's time period, but would not be off-putting to an agnostic reader. Callum is a wonderful character and it's just as well that he is patient and forbearing as well as kind and loving! 

Young Georgiana's friendship with Colin Hutton is a delightfully written 'friendship to more?' bonus storyline. She is energetic, kindhearted and independent-minded, enjoying playing football with the local schoolchildren even if it means her hems become muddy, and she is not above climbing trees even at the age of seventeen! Colin on the other hand is her polar opposite in many ways, being VERY aware of smart clothes and shoes bought for style rather than comfort or practicality. Despite this, he too has a kind heart and a willingness to get into scrapes alongside Georgiana at times, and he is the kind of person it would be easy to underestimate by those who may then be surprised to find that there is substance beneath his polished exterior. To Georgiana's initial confusion and increasing dismay however, as well as his appearance Colin also appears to be becoming increasingly aware of the elegant Eliza Marriott and Eliza is certainly interested in him!

A gently told and wonderfully satisfying Christmas story, with lots of details of the unfolding of a Regency Christmas season, I recommend this as a cosy read for any time of year. Oh, and I loved the clever closing of the series circle at the end of the last chapter!

The Brunswick - Callie Murray

The story begins in Austria in 1938, where 10 year old Charlotte's happy life is destroyed when Nazi officers requisition her family's home and take her father away at gunpoint.

In small town Georgia, Cora Cain struggles with running her family's business The Brunswick. Now a general store, it was once a smart hotel, but debts and a heavy workload pile the stress onto Cora. As well as trying to maintain the business, she is also caring for her war hero father. But far from helping, he has sunk into a dark place which becomes ever darker and he is more and more withdrawn from everything and everyone, including his daughter.

The sudden arrival in town of Thomas Watkins changes Cora's life. She employs him to help out at The Brunswick, giving her the breathing space and support she's not had for far too long, and it's not long before they're aware of a strong mutual attraction. The deepening of their friendship, and the onset of some worrying medical symptoms for Cora are complications enough, with even more challenges to be faced when Cora is asked to open The Brunswick's rooms to provide housing and care for Jewish children fleeing Germany.

Unexpectedly, Thomas leaves for Germany to help with the children, one of whom is Charlotte. But the ring he wears, left to him by his German mother, attracts dangerous attention.

This is a story inspired by actual events, and it makes for jarring reading at times, especially given the situation in today's America as I write this in February 2026. Reading about the hostility towards refugees and those with 'unwelcome' backgrounds is uncomfortably topical. Thomas, writing to Cora, says 'It's much scarier here than I imagined. I think what's most scary is how normal life is for some and how terrifying it is for others.' He also says 'Think about what one life means. You are just one life, Cora, but to me, you are the world.' Sometimes when overwhelmed by things in life, being reminded that 'one life' can make a difference is important. I also very much liked the use of the owl, and the phrase 'have hope in the face of adversity'.

There is lots to like in this story. It's very well researched, with an excellent cast of characters and lots of ebb and flow in the telling. And it felt complete in the ending, too. Something which a few of my recent reads haven't. 

Highly recommended for anyone interested in 'less usual' wartime topics, fostering, or anyone wanting a gentle romance against a serious storyline. The romance is nicely developed and is my favourite in a novel for some time! This isn't a 'fluffy' romance novel but a story of depth and substance, with loss, heartache and struggle as well as joy, and it is very well worth the reading.

I read a pre-publication version supplied by the publisher. No review was required. All comments and opinions above are entirely my own. 

The Woman in Cabin 10 - Ruth Ware

Journalist Lo Blacklock isn't in the best frame of mind to take up her potentially career-advancing opportunity of a luxury press-launch trip on board the luxurious boutique cruise yacht Aurora Bourealis after her flat is broken into while she is at home just before the trip is due to begin. Given the chance to cancel, she instead decides that it will be a chance to recover from the trauma and is determined to go. Except it turns out that a peaceful luxurious voyage is far from what actually happens. Woken in the night by screams from the adjoining cabin, Lo sees a body thrown overboard. But no-one believes her, and the ship's records show that no-one is missing. 

Lo isn't persuaded, however, and she continues to ask questions. A dangerous path to follow for someone on a small ship with a murderer.

I'd not seen the Netflix film before reading this book. In fact, I picked it up in a shop and read the first chapter before having to buy it! It's very well written. The tension and sense of claustrophobia increases throughout and the author is an absolute master of keeping the reader guessing. I had no idea how things would end up! The little interspersions of 'social media' and news reports are very cleverly done too.

The problem, for me at least, is that the heroine is not very likeable for about the first three quarters of the book. Yes, she's been burgled and that would jangle anyone's nerves, but she is permanently exhausted (as we are frequently told), drinks ridiculous amounts (to a point which surely no sane person would be doing on a work cruise this important to their career), and - talking of career - doesn't do the most basic things in terms of preparation for the trip, and seems awkward, gauche and spiky around most of those she meets, which shows people skills which seem seriously lacking for someone in her profession. She really doesn't come across as someone who is a high flyer, with ambition, at the top of her game. Even when making allowances for the break-in at the start.

The book carries the endorsement 'The Agatha Christie of our generation', and although I would personally disagree with this as it's much more 'thriller' than 'cosy mystery' and the heroine certainly doesn't have the sharpness or intelligence of one of Christie's leads, it is however a page turning read which I was eager to pick up whenever I had time to spare.

When They Met Again - Leslie Gould

Adam Slaybaugh is instantly attracted to Joanna Grebel when they meet on the way to a wedding. But Joanna is wary of Adam's interest, and fears he is like her unpredictable and impulsive father. She doesn't believe in love at first sight, and as a reader of classic romances, she knows she wants her true love to be based on friendship first. When she meets Jacob though, her attraction to him is instant. But their relationship is turbulent and rocky. 

Then Adam returns to her home town... 

I really like Leslie Gould's writing. She creates a lovely environment for her characters. I loved the decades-long friendship circle of Becky, Lu, Elaine and Rhoda. I REALLY love the beautiful relationship between Becky and her husband Ike - not to mention the story of how they met! Joanna's connection with her grandmother Lu is very sweet and not at all in a saccharine way. 

I enjoyed reading about the developing friendship circle which Joanna is part of. 

I almost cheered for Rhoda when she stood up to her overbearing son's demands at last, and when she realised how much her granddaughter Joanna means to her. It was good too to see the character development of Joanna's distant Mamm.

I could've shaken Joanna a few times though. For someone so kind and perceptive, her reaction to the discovery about her letter-writer seems overly strong. As does her determination to continue to be 'miffed' about it. I honestly couldn't understand that AT ALL.

A good read, overall. I've docked it a star because the ending felt abrupt. I liked the last letter, and would have liked to have a bit more of a rounded conclusion. I felt a bit short-changed with just the final scene on the stairs.

I read a pre-publication version supplied by the publisher. No review was required. All comments and opinions above are entirely my own.

The Winter Killer - Alex Pine

This is the second DI James Walker book which I was lent by a friend, and once again I found myself immersed in a chilly winter murder mystery in Cumbria. 

The author is adept at creating a complex cast of very different characters and making sure the reader has to concentrate to keep up! I like the DI, and the little bits of detail about his family. It makes a truly refreshing change to have a lead character whose home life is happy and doesn't dominate the story, and who doesn't have some awful trauma going on in his past or present. Thank you, thank you, Alex Pine!

I also like James' sidekick DC Jessica Abbott, and it's she who has the unfortunate experience in the opening chapter of being a guest at a wedding when Rachel, the maid of honour, disappears and is later found dead.

There are plenty of potential suspects, not least Rachel's mysterious Italian boyfriend, a previous ex who's sure Rachel deliberately ruined his political ambitions, and the unpleasant best friend of the groom. I'm pleased to report however that there are quite a few quiet twists in this story.

An excellent read for those who enjoy a well-told, well-plotted and page-turning mystery. I've just bought two more of the books in the series! 

PS: As a footnote, it may be obvious that I've not read this series in order, but this hasn't spoiled my enjoyment of the stories in any way. Both of the novels I've so far read have been fully self-contained and haven't relied on previous books plot points within their own stories.

A Chance for Kallie Mae - Ann H. Gabhart

Kallie Mae Bertram fell in love with neighbouring Quinn Spencer when they were both children who became friends despite their families hostile feud. As youngsters they both had hopes and dreams which for Kallie included learning to read. But then her little sister Laurel died of a fever and her mother dies giving birth to Kallie's youngest sister Emmie. Kallie's father forbids her from seeing Quinn, and she must suddenly step into the role of mother to Emmie, and pretty much to her younger brother Whitt too. Her dreams are shattered. 

Six years later, searching for Emmie in the local woods, she meets Quinn again, and all those childhood feelings reawaken and intensify. And then, the new local schoolteacher announces that she is starting a 'moonlight school' for adults, held at night. Kallie can learn to read after all! Perhaps her other dreams can come to fruition too, she hopes, until her father announces he'd rather see her dead than married to a Spencer. 

I enjoyed this mountain story from Ann H. Gabhart very much. The setting of the Appalachian Mountains is immersively described, as are the people who live there. Kallie and Quinn's love story is beautifully developed and believably written, and little Emmie is a wonderful character full of energy and joy. Both of which are challenged by the birthmark she carries on her face and the family feud which impacts her friendships. We are reminded to be careful about what we say when Emmie overhears careless comments about her birth causing her mother's death. Comments which she takes to heart, believing it was her fault her mother died. 

Of all the characters in the story, I think I love Emmie the most. She deals with her own hopes, fears and disappointments in a way (mostly) mature for her years, and stands up for her sister and brother as well as she is able. She loves simply and transparently. At the other end of the age spectrum is the equally wonderful Aunt Sudie. Single and strongly independent, she yet provides an almost mother-figure to Kallie and her wisdom is respected. The ebbs and flow of this story are engaging, and the resolution(s!) is dramatic and absolutely feels true. 

Another excellent, sensitive, and inspiring novel from an author who maintains her place on my 'must-read authors' list.

I read a pre-publication version supplied by the publisher. No review was required. All comments and opinions above are entirely my own.

Almost by Design - Jenny Erlingsson

Kenya Stewart messes up her diary and misses a crucially important meeting, putting her work promotion in serious jeapardy. And shortly afterwards she has an accident which puts her in the emergency room, and out of her office for some time.

Solomon Anruchi is training to be a physical therapist, but his parents see this as a 'phase' before he commits to the family business. Thinking that having a girlfriend will ease his family's pressure on him, Solomon suggests to Kenya that they fake a relationship. And this is where things hit the first snag, for me. At this point, I cannot see ANY reason why Kenya would even entertain the idea. It's not until later on that she discovers that Solomon's family have links which could help her in her business aspirations. Anyway, they begin their 'relationship', which is very quickly trickier than planned because Solomon, who previously ghosted Kenya after a single 'real' date (see earlier comment ref not understanding why she would think fake dating a good idea) has strong feelings for her and she for him. But because neither of them talk, life gets messy pretty quickly. 

I found this hard going often. It didn't help that I disliked Solomon's family pretty much from the off, especially his parents. I also find Kenya, in her 30s, still referring to her father as 'Daddy' a bit odd (though this story is set in the southern US where I gather it's more common useage), and I strongly dislike people who excuse outright rudeness by casually saying 'she knows that's how I roll', never mind those who ask a very newly married couple when they will have babies. A question which to my mind is no-one else's business at any point, ever.

That said, it's a well-written story. The library scene is especially well-done, entertaining and clever, although I can't understand why Kenya didn't tell Solomon about her dyslexia afterwards. She's clearly a woman who has achieved a lot, and doing it with dyslexia is even more impressive, given her career. She could easily have told him, but then we wouldn't have had the dramatic wedding situation! On the other hand, Solomon not saying a BIT more about the substance of his family's business is also nuts, considering his worries when Kenya goes to meet his mother. And it would have avoided the entirely unnecessarily awkward - and slightly offensive - conversation they had as a result.

But the bottom line is that I didn't really find myself cheering for any of the characters. Reading, especially fiction, is very subjective, so I'm sure others will really enjoy this one. I could be accused of reading with a cultural bias, but I read lots of novels which are set in different cultures to mine and I enjoy most of them. I actually really enjoyed the author's previous book in this series, Her Part to Play, so I am hoping that for me this is a blip in the series, and I'll certainly still be reading the next.

I read a pre-publication version supplied by the publisher. No review was required. All comments and opinions above are entirely my own.

Scent of Hope - Susan May Warren

PI Harley Tatum has come back to Copper Mountain, the place she swore she'd never return to, chasing the drug dealer responsible for so much of her past trauma. It's already a lot to deal with - and then she finds out that the search dog handler she's been called in to work with is none other than Jericho Bowie. The man she'd loved her entire life, until everything messily unravelled seven years before. Harley hopes that things can be wrapped up in a day or so, and she can return to her life in Juneau. But things go south quickly when she's shot by the fugitive she's hunting....

This is a book packed with action and energy. It's a lot more than simply working out Harley and Jericho's relationship. Actually, I did find their early angst rather hard work at times, but there was more than enough intrigue to keep me turning the pages. And there is an excellent and MASSIVE plot twist which I never saw coming!

There's a strong thread of 'new starts' throughout. Jericho and Harley (individually as well as a couple), Gabe - in more ways than one, Even Orlando, the Bernese-cross search dog with PTSD. 

This is a Christian suspense novel with a strong Christian element, especially later in the book. When this is first introduced I found it slightly jarring, but afterwards the Christian elements were well woven into the storyline and felt true to the characters.

A book which is well worth persevering with, with interesting characters and a completely compelling family dynamic. I like the way that characters from other books and series by this author are mentioned here and there in a way which her regular readers will appreciate but which won't seem odd or awkward to someone coming new to this book. I certainly hope that the next book in the Call of the Wild series will include some good news for Kennedy and Sully. Although while mentioning them, I do like the fact that Susan May Warren is an author who shows characters in her suspense novels who are working through hard things in life which cannot be mended by 'catching the bad guy'.

NOTE: I read a pre-publication version supplied by the publisher. No review was required. All comments and opinions above are entirely my own.