Filthy Rich Redemption (Filthy Rich Billionaires Book 2) by Rachael Stewart @rach_b52 @BoldwoodBooks

Filthy Rich Redemption (Filthy Rich Billionaires Book 2)

by Rachael Stewart 

Oh, my heart.

I finished this book late last night/early hours of this morning because there was no way I could go to sleep until I had. I cried throughout the last few chapters, but thankfully I was smiling again by the end.

What a rollercoaster of emotions!

Back to the beginning, this story starts with a bang (in more ways than one!). WOW! Hot is insufficient a word. If you’re not a fan of an erotic scene this book might not be for you. You’d be missing out on such a gorgeous love story though!  

Filthy Rich Redemption pretty much starts where book one finishes, but at Christmastime with Theo, Sadie, and Lottie as they begin their new lives together. I loved their story and it was so good to catch up with them again. I’m so happy that Axel and Taylor get to share their stories on this occasion though, as heart-wrenching as it is at times.

Axel had the most horrendous childhood with parents who don’t deserve to be called that. As a result, he feels like he’s damaged goods. Someone no-one would want to be with other than for the night. He doesn’t feel worthy of anything more. He couldn’t be more wrong though. He might be big and hard looking on the outside, but he’s definitely more than meets the eye! (How he is with three-year-old Lottie is just so cute).

He’s been best friends with Theo and Taylor since they were teens, they’re as thick as thieves and their friendships are solid. Axel has been in love with Taylor the whole time though and she has no idea! Imagine keeping such strong feelings to yourself for more than twenty years, especially for someone you see all the time. It must be agony.

When Taylor asks him if he’ll father her a baby, no strings attached, she has no idea what she’s asking for, and where such a request will lead them. She knows she can trust him with her life though, so there’s no-one better.

Axel being Axel agrees but insists on doing things ‘the old-fashioned way’. Taylor is wary at first, not wanting to ruin their friendship, but let’s just say Axel proves to be quite persuasive!

The chemistry between these two is off the charts!!

My heart went out to Axel. He’s so wants to give Taylor everything she desires, but he tries his best not to betray his true feelings to her. His pain is almost palpable, and he was breaking my heart. Taylor soon realises there is far more to this than a business arrangement though. I’m not at all surprised that she falls for him. They are absolutely meant to be together, and I was panicking when I thought things might not work out the way I had hoped for them both. As I said, the last few chapters…. I haven’t cried so much reading a book for ages.

I don’t know how you do it, Rachael, but you create characters I can’t help but fall in love with. I’m not sure who I love more now, Theo or Axel! 😉

I was so looking forward to this story, and I have absolutely LOVED it!

I can’t wait for book three!

** Many thanks to Rachael Stewart for my advance kindle copy for review **

Taylor

I wanted a baby — no strings, no messy emotions. Just a donor I could trust — my best friend. He didn’t hesitate or ask why. He said yes… with one condition: no clinics, no cold procedures. Just him — his bed, his way. I should have said no. But I wanted this. And I didn’t realise how much I wanted him. I told myself I could handle it — keep my heart locked tight. But the moment he touched me, all those lies fell apart. Now I’m falling — for a man who never promised me anything but his body. And my deepest desire risks becoming my darkest downfall. But now there’s no turning back.

Axel

She asked me to give her a baby. No love. No future. Just a piece of me. I’m not a good man. I’m not the kind you build a life with. But this… this was my one chance to touch heaven and pretend it wouldn’t burn me alive. So I took her. Over and over. Knowing she’ll never be mine. But now I’m addicted. Possessive. I don’t want just her body — I want her soul. Her future. Her everything. And when she walks away — like we both know she will — it’ll break me. Because I’d give her the world… But I’ll never be worthy of it.

Treat yourself….

OUT 4TH APRIL 2026

I.C.Y.M.I

Happy reading!

How to Get Away with Murder by Rebecca Philipson @BeccaPhilipson @TransworldBooks #HowToGetAwayWithMurder

How to Get Away with Murder

by Rebecca Philipson 

Clever! Very clever!

The title of this book intrigued me. Not that I’m an aspiring serial killer, of course, but I was interested to discover how such a premise would play out. What a brilliant idea for a serial killer thriller!

Denver Brady is a killer and is so confident in his abilities that he’s published a book, a manual of sorts, to help those who are his way inclined to avoid capture and prosecution, basically by learning from the mistakes made by those who came before him, but who ultimately slipped up at one point or another. An arrogant character, full of his own self-importance, convinced he’s doing the world a favour by imparting his wisdom.

When this book is found at a murder scene it is initially assumed that Denver Brady must be responsible. DI Samantha Hansen believes otherwise but is struggling to prove it. She’s freshly back from sick leave and is supposed to be on light/part-time duties only. I could feel her rising frustration, throughout this investigation, with her superiors who just seem to be happy with the most convenient conclusion to the case, happy to wrap things up and close the case without considering her theories, using her recent issues against her. It makes for an extremely tense read. I couldn’t wait to find out which side of the team would turn out to have been right all along.

I was hooked. A difficult book to put down and one I couldn’t wait to get back to every chance I got and OH. MY. DAYS! What a jaw dropping conclusion!!

Just brilliant!

I can’t wait to see what Rebecca Philipson writes next.

** Many thanks to Laura & Maximus @whiskers_andwords for my signed paperback proof copy via their giveaway. I can’t recommend it highly enough! **

How To Get Away with Murder will be released on the 12th of March 2026.

Denver Brady claims to be the most successful serial killer of our time – and that’s precisely why you’ve never heard of him.

But with the publication of How to Get Away With Murder, his manual for aspiring serial killers, that’s about to change.

When a copy of Denver’s book is found at a crime scene, DI Samantha Hansen is given the job of tracking down the elusive author.

As Denver and Sam’s stories unfold and converge, it becomes clear that there’s more to both than meets the eye.

And once Denver’s book goes viral, the pressure to find and bring him to justice brings Sam to breaking point.

But in this dark and twisted tale, who is hunting whom?

Happy reading!

Love Lane by Patrick Gale 

Love Lane

by Patrick Gale

I had missed Harry Cane. I hadn’t realised quite how much until now.

I can’t tell you how excited I was to learn that Patrick Gale was releasing Love Lane! I was absolutely blown away by A Place Called Winter when I read it back in February 2021. I could not resist requesting an advance copy via NetGalley. I was SO happy when the publisher approved my request and I can confirm that I have absolutely loved this book!

It was so lovely to catch up with Harry, and Paul, again at the beginning of this story. My heart did break for Harry when their relationship ends abruptly. Reasons being understandable for the time though. It’s awful to think how many people were unable to live their lives as their absolute true selves back then.

This is far from the end of the heartbreak for Harry too, and I found myself really disliking certain characters when Harry has no choice but to give in to blackmail which results in him sacrificing everything he’s built for himself.

It does however leave him free to finally make the journey back to England to see his long-lost daughter who had been in touch more recently, and other family he had yet to meet. Their reunion is awkward, as expected, at first. They are essentially strangers and are very much used to their lives as they are. They’re not quite sure how to integrate this old man into their daily lives.

You can’t help but be drawn to these characters. I felt for them all for different reasons. Set in a time when there was less tolerance, certain expectations of women and of men to take a wife. To have families and lead ‘normal’ lives. No mobile phones and/or video calling to help with staying in touch wherever one is in the world. It must have made things impossible to maintain relationships with anyone not living in the same town as yourself.

The fact that this story is based on real people makes it even more moving. It’s such a captivating story, beautifully written as I’ve come to expect from Patrick Gale. His books are so difficult to review because I always feel like nothing I can say will ever do it the justice it deserves. He’s just so eloquent.

The ending is devastatingly inevitable.

An unforgettable tale.

Harry Cane will always have a special place in my heart.

** Many thanks to the publisher for my ARC via NetGalley **

Love Lane will be released on the 26th of March 2026.

Miraculous, mischievous and quietly devastating‘ Rachel Joyce

‘A tender, delicately devastating novel’ Sarah Waters

‘ An engulfing, deeply humane novel about the triumphs and failures of human connection’ Marina Kemp

A journey. A reunion. A longing for a place called home…

When veteran Canadian wheat farmer, Harry Cane sails home to an England transformed by two world wars, his arrival triggers unwelcome self-examination for the family he abandoned.

His daughter feels duty bound to take him in but is ambushed by a long buried anger she has never before expressed. Harry’s effect on the next generation is less predictable, and enables his granddaughter to deal with an unspeakable trauma, while her gentle husband feels seen for who he truly is.

Can Harry stay and make a new life before it’s too late, or will he find himself cast out again, punished for having witnessed and understood too much?

‘ There is no judgement here, only humanity. A joy and a lesson for our time Ann Cleeves

‘An involving story of reconciliation, secrets and compromises, rich in emotional truth and evocative historical detail’ Clare Chambers


‘It has the feel of a small-scale epic, filtered through distinct voices, about family and memory, estrangement and homecoming’ James Cahill

He makes you care about the characters – a deep, moving novel’ Georgina Moore

I.C.Y.M.I

Happy reading!

#FlashbackFriday March 2026

Hi, and welcome to my Flashback Friday feature!

On the first Friday of each month I like to look back at the books I was reading the previous year during the same month.

Please do join in if you have the time, I’d love to see your posts 🙂

A big thank you to those who already join in regularly! x

Here are my reviews from March 2025 + a link to previous March FBFs….

Happy reading!

A Perfectly Good Man by Patrick Gale 

A Perfectly Good Man

by Patrick Gale 

A Perfectly Good Man is another beautifully written novel by an author who is fast becoming one of my favourites. I loved A Place Called Winter and Mother’s Boy, so I was very much looking forward to getting stuck into this novel and, of course, I was not disappointed.

I can’t really put into words how absorbing Patrick Gale’s books are. This one is no exception. I soon found myself captivated by the setting, the characters, and their stories and was happily swept along to the very last satisfying page.

Each chapter is told from the point of view of a different leading character, at different points in their lives, and not in chronological order. Far from being confusing though I really enjoyed this layout and found it to be a very clever way of developing the story and maintaining intrigue.

Father Barnaby Johnson is the main character. A priest, a husband, and a father. He has his own secrets and struggles with his faith at times, as well as with his relationships. A likable, and real, character though. I felt completely compelled by his story and my heart went out to him often although I couldn’t necessarily condone some of his actions. First and foremost, he is human.

This whole story highlights the fragility of human life. Our strengths and weaknesses. Who and what shapes us into the adults we become. Some things not always for the better.

A fascinating cast of characters, with compelling tales to tell, set in beautiful Cornwall. Heart-wrenching at times but thought provoking and incredibly moving. I loved it!

** I read my own paperback copy of A Perfectly Good Man **

I am also currently enjoying Love Lane via NetGalley (on Kindle) and I’m very much looking forward to seeing Patrick Gale is Oswestry, as part of his book tour, towards the end of the month.

On a clear, crisp summer’s day in Cornwall, a young man carefully prepares to take his own life, and asks family friend, Barnaby Johnson, to pray with him.

Barnaby is a priest, a husband and father, and has always tried to do good, though life hasn’t always been either straightforward or rosy. Lenny’s request poses problems, not just for Barnaby, but for his wife and family, and the wider community, as the secrets of the past push themselves forcefully into the present for all to see.

I.C.Y.M.I

hAPPY READING!

Kill List: The Father Black series book four by Mick Williams 

Kill List: The Father Black series book four

by Mick Williams 

I was lucky enough to read an early copy of Kill List, and I couldn’t wait to dive in as this is such a brilliant series!

If you haven’t met Father Black yet, then you really are missing out!

In Kill List not only does Father Black find his life and the life of his treasurer are in danger once again, but also his actual church building is at risk.

Father Black knows too much so there are some who are keen to find him and eliminate his threat. He needs to be one step ahead. This is where Emmy comes in. I love how she is with Father Black. She cracks me up, but I certainly wouldn’t like to cross her!

This book starts exactly how it intends to go on. Action from the very first page and it rarely lets up throughout.

As with the previous books in this series Kill List is full of intrigue, brilliant characters who we get to know that bit more with each book and whose banter is highly entertaining, a tense plotline which kept me engrossed, and fabulously choreographed fight scenes. I know I’ve said it before, but this series would make a brilliant TV series. I love it! I find myself increasingly invested in these characters with each addition to the series. They make an excellent team, and I look forward to what they get up to next.

The ending is genius and leaves the story open to continue nicely in book five. I can’t wait!

** Many thanks to Mick Williams for my early epub copy **

When a covert U.S. military operation accidentally exposes a long-buried Honos safe house, a dormant war is reignited. Hidden inside is access to highly secretive servers that contain data so dangerous that, in the wrong hands, could shatter governments and rewrite the balance of power.

With time running out, Father Black is dragged back into the shadows he once escaped.

But someone is already moving against him.

A mysterious force activates a kill list; four former Honos operatives, a combination of elite and ruthless killers who are trained to hunt.

Their mission is simple: find Father Black and silence him.

Refusing to run, Father teams up with Emmy—stunning, dangerous, and impossible to ignore—and takes the fight to his pursuers. Outnumbered and outgunned, he must once more fall back on Honos resources to combat the best of the worst.

Because if he fails, the servers fall—and the world pays the price.

Happy reading!

The Girl Who Escaped from Auschwitz by Ellie Midwood 

The Girl Who Escaped from Auschwitz

by Ellie Midwood 

The Girl Who Escaped from Auschwitz is another heart-wrenching read set in one of the most horrific times in history. It is a powerful love story. Fiction, but based on true events.

Mala and Edek are inspirational characters as are others featured throughout the story. Some names I recognised from other books I’ve read about the atrocities these people faced in Auschwitz.

The courage these people demonstrated in the face of such horror will never cease to amaze me. I can’t even begin to imagine living through such an horrendous ordeal.

To have the strength of character to do what Mala and Edek do and what they ultimately end up facing is phenomenally courageous. What others do in support of them even more so, I think.

A compelling, emotional, disturbing, inspirational read with a strong message of hope and a lesson to us all that these books are essential in keeping history, however upsetting and uncomfortable, in the forefront of people’s minds.

I could barely read the epilogue for tears.

** Many thanks to my friend, Brian, for sharing this book with me. I will be adding Ellie Midwood’s other books to my wishlist. **

Millions of people walked through Auschwitz’s gates, but she was the first woman who escaped. This powerful novel is inspired by the true story of Mala Zimetbaum, whose heroism will never be forgotten, and whose fate altered the course of history…

Nobody leaves Auschwitz alive.

Mala, inmate 19880, understood that the moment she stepped off the cattle train into the depths of hell. As an interpreter for the SS, she uses her position to save as many lives as she can, smuggling scraps of bread to those desperate with hunger.

Edward, inmate 531, is a camp veteran and a political prisoner. Though he looks like everyone else, with a shaved head and striped uniform, he’s a fighter in the underground Resistance. And he has an escape plan.

They are locked up for no other sin than simply existing. But when they meet, the dark shadow of Auschwitz is lit by a glimmer of hope. Edward makes Mala believe in the impossible. That despite being surrounded by electric wire, machine guns topping endless watchtowers and searchlights roaming the ground, they will leave this death camp.

A promise is made––they will escape together or they will die together. What follows is one of the greatest love stories in history…

Wait For Me by Elisabeth Naughton 

Wait For Me

by Elisabeth Naughton 

Wait For Me had been on my kindle TBR for some time before being chosen at random as my next read. I went in blind, so I had no idea what to expect. Given the title I expected it to be a love story, and it is, but I did not expect it to be so shocking and heavy.

When we first meet Kate, she is struggling to recover from an accident which has left her with memory loss. As if she doesn’t have enough to deal with, she loses her husband suddenly and whilst going through his office she soon finds evidence that their life together might not have been all she thought it was.

Digging into her past leads her to pharmaceutical executive, Ryan. This leads to even further confusion for both, initially.

At this point I realised where the story was leading but that didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the book and I had no idea just how complicated the tale would prove to be as it progressed.

I did wonder how Kate could be so trusting of Ryan with her five-year-old son, so soon after meeting him. Same for him with his daughter. It makes sense as the story progresses, but initially I found that quite odd. Considering what Kate has gone through, and is still going through, I would be very mistrusting of anyone and everyone if I was her. I can’t imagine being confronted with not knowing exactly who I was or have any recollection of my past. It must be terrifying.

I found this to be a compelling read, by a new-to-me author, which is highly emotional and horrifying at times. It is also full of love, passion, and devotion. Love conquers all, after all, and who doesn’t love a happy ending!?

** According to Amazon I purchased the kindle edition of Wait for Me on 2nd January 2013. I have since downloaded the prequel **

A woman without a past…
After a tragic accident left her with no memory, Kate Alexander struggled to fit in with a husband and world that didn’t feel right. She’s had no reason to question what friends and family have told her, not until her husband is suddenly killed and she finds a photo of a young girl in his office. A girl who can’t be anyone but a daughter Kate didn’t know she had.

A man desperate for a reason to live…
Ryan Harrison lost his wife in a plane crash five years ago. To cope with the pain of her loss, he dedicated himself to his job and to raising their daughter. Now a successful pharmaceutical executive, Ryan has everything a man could want—money, fame and power—but he’d give it all up in a heartbeat for just one more day with the woman he still loves.

Two lives about to converge.
As Kate begins to dig into a past she doesn’t remember, evidence leads her to San Francisco and puts her on the path toward Ryan, a man who sees in her the woman he loved and lost. Kate feels a draw to Ryan, one she can’t explain, but is that feeling enough to convince her this is where she’s supposed to be? As Ryan and Kate search for answers, they uncover lies long buried, a passion hotter than either expected and a danger that threatens…even now…when the second chance they’ve both been searching for is finally within reach.

Books in the Against All Odds Series:
WAIT FOR YOU – Book 1
WAIT FOR ME – Book 2
HOLD ON TO ME – Book 3
MELT FOR ME – Book 4

Happy Reading!

#ComingSoon Kill List (The Father Black series book 4) by Mick Williams

When a covert U.S. military operation accidentally exposes a long-buried Honos safe house, a dormant war is reignited. Hidden inside is access to highly secretive servers that contain data so dangerous that, in the wrong hands, could shatter governments and rewrite the balance of power.

With time running out, Father Black is dragged back into the shadows he once escaped.

But someone is already moving against him.

A mysterious force activates a kill list; four former Honos operatives, a combination of elite and ruthless killers who are trained to hunt.

Their mission is simple: find Father Black and silence him.

Refusing to run, Father teams up with Emmy—stunning, dangerous, and impossible to ignore—and takes the fight to his pursuers. Outnumbered and outgunned, he must once more fall back on Honos resources to combat the best of the worst.

Because if he fails, the servers fall—and the world pays the price.

Kill List: The Father Black series book four https://amzn.eu/d/0cqXhy3B

New to the series?

Mission Black: The Father Black Series book 1 https://amzn.eu/d/00jf8shz

HAPPY READING!

#FlashbackFriday February 2026

Hi, and welcome to my Flashback Friday feature!

On the first Friday of each month I like to look back at the books I was reading the previous year during the same month.

Please do join in if you have the time, I’d love to see your posts 🙂

A big thank you to those who already join in regularly! x

Here are my reviews from February 2025 + a link to previous February FBFs….

Version 1.0.0

Happy reading!