Sunday, 6 April 2025

Easter Giveaway: Win a bundle of treats including Funny Story by Emily Henry

I recently bought a copy of Emily Henry's latest book Funny Story but when I got home I realised that I already had a copy on my Kindle so decided that I'd run a giveaway for it so that a follower of the blog could read it for themselves. I then decided that I wanted to include some other goodies as well so bought this cute Easter Bunny bookmark on Facebook and then bought a Creme Egg bar and a bag of Squashies Drum Chick when I went shopping yesterday.  

Daphne always loved the way Peter told their story. That is until it became the prologue to his actual love story with his childhood bestie, Petra.

Which is how Daphne ends up rooming with her total opposite and the only person who could possibly understand her predicament: Petra's ex, Miles.

As expected, it’s not a match made in heaven – that is until one night, while tossing back tequilas, they form a plan.

Friday, 4 April 2025

Emma's Review: The Golden Hour by Kate Lord Brown

Reviewed by Emma Crowley

Archaeologist Lucie Fitzgerald's mother is dying – she's also been lying. As her home, the 'Paris of the East', Beirut, teeters on the brink of war in the ‘70s, Polly Fitzgerald has one last story to tell from her deathbed.  It’s the story of her childhood best friend Juno and their life in 30s Cairo. Lucie travels home to be with her dying mother and discovers the truth about her family, Juno's work and their shared search for the greatest undiscovered tomb of all - Nefertiti's. 

Book Links: Kindle or Hardcover

Tuesday, 1 April 2025

Emma's Review: The English Wife by Anna Stuart

Reviewed by Emma Crowley 

Rushing back to 10 Downing Street, Clementine is relieved to see the famous building is still standing despite the heavy bombing. It means the Prime Minister – her husband – is alive. Stepping through the door and into Winston’s arms, she is reassured by his steady heartbeat. Every day has been a fight for survival, with people losing loved ones all around her. She prays that this war will not cost her Winston.

Her husband has always dreamed of being Prime Minister; she knew from the moment they married thirty years ago that he wanted to lead the country. Since then, they’ve been a partnership in love and in politics. But, with the war against Hitler, it’s a much bigger responsibility than either of them ever expected. The world needs Winston, and Winston needs her.

While Winston co-ordinates battles across Europe, Clementine finds herself in the spotlight for the first time. Her husband’s name may be on the lips of every soldier and politician but she knows as she visits hospitals and air raid shelters, that the ordinary people speak her name just as much. She realises she has the potential to make a difference – not as Winston’s shadow in the background but as Clementine Churchill.

One evening, as she looks into Winston’s dear face, Clementine can tell his bravery comes at a cost. Can she help the man she loves finish the fight for freedom – or will this war cost them everything?

Book Links: Kindle or Paperback

Wednesday, 26 March 2025

Emma's Review: The Wife at the Last House Before the Sea by Liz Eeles

Reviewed by Emma Crowley

Emma breathes a sigh of nervous excitement as she hangs up the beautiful ivory dress. Heartbroken and with her divorce freshly signed, the anonymous donation of a stunning wedding gown is just what Emma needs for her new adventure: selling unique clothing from her own vintage shop, tucked away amidst the winding streets of Heaven’s Cove.

Not everyone in the village is welcoming. Handsome Leo runs the bespoke suit shop next door – and his uptight father Robert doesn’t approve of the vintage store’s quirky style. But Emma’s fears that she was wrong to uproot her old life fade the more time she spends with Leo. Because a warm heart lies behind his brooding exterior…

Their new connection is called into question when Robert sees the silk wedding dress. The usually emotionless older man is shocked at the sight of the gown: but refuses to say what’s wrong. Together, Emma and Leo promise to solve the mystery of who the dress belonged to – and why Robert is so shaken. Their questions around Heaven’s Cove lead them to an empty manor house, a wedding that happened years ago, and a family who haven’t been seen around the village since…

But the closer they get to answers, the more pain they could cause Robert. And when a shocking revelation about Leo’s family comes to light, Emma must question everything. Is it time to run from Heaven’s Cove as quickly as she arrived? Or if she finally finds the truth about the wife who wore the wedding dress, could it heal her – and Leo’s – heart for good?

Book Links: Kindle or Paperback

Sunday, 23 March 2025

Emma's Review: The Wartime Chocolate Maker by Gosia Nealon

Reviewed by Emma Crowley 

Working in her father’s chocolate factory, Kasia risks her life every day hiding notes vital to the Polish resistance in the carefully packaged boxes. The information tucked beneath the truffles is crucial to freeing her country and her family from the Nazis. But each of her recipes is sent out under the watchful eyes of her boss, Sebastian—the man who broke her heart.

She has never been able to reconcile the kind, sweet boy she once adored with the man now allied with the Germans. Yet the more time she spends around him, the more he seems to hint at sympathizing with the resistance. And the risk of revealing everything to him seems to shrink day by day.

Until one coded message hidden among the rich chocolate makes her fear for her mother and brother’s lives. And though she’s on the factory floor with a group of fellow resistance women, she can’t let on what she knows. Because her network has been betrayed.

As she searches the faces of those closest to her for any sign of guilt, her eyes meet Sebastian’s, full of care and concern. With time running out, Kasia wonders if she can trust him with this deadly secret? Or are the soldiers already on their way to arrest her?

Book Links: Kindle or Paperback