Gripping spy story

 

I was asked by NetGalley to review this really gripping spy thriller. 

Corfu and the Island of Vidos is where a group of people have been exiled- these are ex MI6 members.

This is Spyland and the story is set between the 90s and the 1940s. 

No one is as they appear and Nina who is recovering form being in Serbia and knows all is not as it would first appear on the Island, and is weave her way through some awful events.

A gripping recommended read, due for publication February 12 2026.

Quirky

 

I was asked by NetGalley to review this interesting and different spin on the London Blitz in World War 2- a fantasy novel. I have read a great deal about the London blitz but boy did the author conjure up the feel, the acrid smoke, the glass, devisation and black outs.

We meet Iris  a young woman in the city working in finance, and Geoff working for the BBC, this is London at the beginning of the war, sprits can be summoned and history changed. a Fascist is travelling through time and it is Iris that will need to stop them.

What a different slant on history and a really good read a love story, morals of good v evil 

I do hope there is a sequal.

Due for publication February 26 2026.

A Great Read

 

I was asked by NetGalley to review this remarkable story of love, secrets and family.

The story takes the reader from vineyards of France, Scotland, England and Australia. Jacques Louis Colbert and early pharmacist in London comitted a terrible crime is sent to Australia ( where convicts were sent in those days) for his crimes never to return to England.

Then there is Caroline the daughter of Jacques - escaping her past, travels on ship masquerading as a weathy widow to Austraila. She adopts a young cabin boy to be her newphew. When she emarks in Hobart Australia she seeks out an old cottage with an old vineyard and her vision is to grow grapes as her paternal family did in France before the French Revolution.

Caroline must reinvent herself as her father is not far from where she has settled.

Champagne, twists and turns and secretsd makes this a really enjoyable read.

Well wrritten and an author I will seek out.

Readers not long to wait due for publication next month on 15 January 2026.

 

Having time off in December I was excited to read this having been asked by NetGalley to review 

I have a great interest in World War 2 and this book has been well researched.

A story following different people during World War 2 and post war-there is a german soldier, an Natzi SS Officer and an English Jew- they are all connected as they attended an art school in Germany. Quite a dark book but Nazi Germany was during the horrors of World War 2. 

This author writes well and tells a good story.

Recommended and I belive was published at the end of November 2025.

 

I was asked by NetGalley to review this remarkable book and I loved it.

Four sisters separated in 1931- their father takes down some stones in commemoration of four daughters who were abducted from a place called Skara. 

The fathers family end up loosing their fortune, his wife dies, the father becomes a pitiful man ending up a drunk and the four sisters have to fend for themselves. each daughter inherits a ring and they leave going in search of different things.

Then in the present a painting is seen in London of the four stones and then a quest to finf out who the artist is and the family of this artist.

There will be more as time goes on 

So so recomended loved this due for publication before Easter in March 12 2026.

 

I was asked by NetGalley to review this book.

I loved this book, told in a different was from points of view from people round about Clara and Seb, this is about forgiviness and love over some 20 years. The characters are not perfect and that was good. 

20 years and a lot can happen and it does- from love, regret and happiness too.

This was a really touching story so recommended 

Sadly not due for publication until July 2nd 2026.

 

I was asked by NetGalley to review this- I love Tom Allen as a comedian so thought let's see.

A good debut novel - This could be any suburban street of residents who come together to try to save an oak tree destined for desxtuction by developers.

Theres more to this than just a loved oak tree in a "perfect" looking street, and as tensions mount readers learn of secrets within this street, and takes us beyond the net curtains and closed doors. Tom has developed good charactertisation, humour and a good story all thrown into the mix.

Sadly not due for publication till May 21st 2026, so readers will have to wait a while longer.

Recommended debut novel.

Bonkers but loved it

 

Wow this lady has been through the mill, lived a bonkers life style - privillaged, in a different world, pre war, war and post war, where husbands ruled the roost. A husband with a sense of fun, party life but tainted by tantrums and outbursts.

Sad that Lady Anne - lost two sons, and nearly a third which is sad for anyone and these parts of the book you can see her despair and longining.

Lady in Waiting to Princess Margaret - Lady Anne tries to set the record straight about this princess whose sister was the late Queen. Lady Anne fed up of what the media would protray her as.

Lavish life style with a husband who bought Moustique in the caribean and set about brinig this island to life. 

15 years ago her husband dies leaving her with virtually nothing - did she see that coming or was there some naivety there we will never know.

There are times when you feel sorry for Lady Anne, times you think would I have done that and a different age and lifestyle brought up in the shaddows of the Royal family.

Recommended read I have to say I did enjoy it.

Haunting

 

Having read the author's previous book- The Adventures Of Reenie Odd Socks: Children's bedtime stories this year and loved the stories and the author's style of writing - I was intrigued when I found out he had written a YA book and a horror story. I so loved this story of Willow and Lady Vorgana a prisoner waiting her power to come to light which is bubbling under the surface, and ancient magic. Willow, lives far away but is constantly having the very strangest of dreams, what she does not know is she is the key to setting Lady Vorgana from the prison she is in and to claim the dark throne!
A haunting eerie story that stays on your mind long after reading this dark horror story.
The author I feel is going to carry on this story and theme as he has left the story open and readers wondering.
This author is so versatile in his story telling for the very young - in his first book and now for YA.
I do hope the author writes another this is so recommended.