Will one week in Greece change their lives for ever?

Chef Maria is running a successful cookery school in her home village of Petalidi, Greece – but she is also running from the secrets of her past.

Food journalist Kayla thought this was going to be just another work trip. But right before she leaves for Greece, she discovers that her whole life is built on a lie.

Jewellery-maker Alessandra has always lived according to her own rules – despite what it has cost her to do so. But she has just had some devastating news.

As these three very different women come together at the house in the olive grove, unlikely friendships blossom and a season of self-discovery begins. Will the sumptuous flavours, sapphire waters and golden sands of Greece give each of them the answers they so desperately seek?

The House in the Olive Grove

by Emma Cowell

My review

Having read and loved One Last Letter From Greece by Emma Cowell, I was very much looking forward to reading The House in the Olive Grove. I have not been disappointed as it is the most gorgeous read!

I have never been to Greece, but I felt like I was there as I read this book. Petalidi sounds like the most gorgeous place and the food sounds divine!

Maria is a lovely character. Imagine living somewhere so beautiful and running a successful cookery school from your home. Getting to cook and eat delicious food as a job sounds amazing. Tie that in with meeting new and interesting people. It really does sound like a dream come true. Her life isn’t without sadness and troubles though. I did really feel for her.

Maria’s most recent clients, Kayla and Allesandra, are both intriguing characters. Chalk and cheese would be an understatement! They don’t get off to the best start, but that is before they get to know more about each other. I loved how their friendship develops.

I enjoyed the relationship Maria shares with her sharp, straight talking, mother. I admire Maria for staying true to herself although I was hoping she’d find love as much as her mother was.

I loved Maria’s relationship with her bees too. I’d love a beehive in my garden.

All three ladies have their crosses to bare and there are some heart-wrenching scenes throughout this story. It’s heart-breaking at times, but so very heart-warming for the most part.

The House in the Olive Grove is a story of friendship, love, courage, acceptance, and hope. I LOVED it!

**Many thanks to the author and publisher for my review copy via NetGalley**

Available now

I.C.Y.M.I

One Last Letter from Greece: The new sweeping, romantic debut novel to escape with in summer 2022 by Emma Cowell @emmalloydcowell @AvonBooksUK #BookReview

Happy reading! 🙂

A new dark, twisty psychological suspense by bestselling author Caroline England, author of Betray Her and My Husband’s Lies.

Katy Henry is lost and lonely. A single mother, plagued by fatigue and anxiety, she rarely has time for friends. But when she encounters Sibeal Matthews, all this changes. Sibeal is everything that Katy is not: assured, headstrong and charming.

Katy soon finds herself pulled out of her isolation into a fierce friendship. But Sibeal is not all that she seems. Tragedy haunts her, and for all her feistiness, she is startlingly dependent on her brother, Gabriel. And when her life begins to spectacularly unravel, Katy is swept up in the storm.

As Katy fights to protect herself and her son, it’s not just Sibeal who threatens to endanger them – Katy’s own past starts to rupture. Who can Katy trust? Can she even trust herself?

Check this out!….

Watch this space for the forthcoming blog tour!

Available to pre-order now!

Biography:

CWA Dagger shortlisted Caroline England is known as the ‘Duchess of dark domestic noir’. Her psychological suspense thrillers are BENEATH THE SKIN, the top ten ebook bestseller MY HUSBAND’S LIES, BETRAY HER, TRUTH GAMES and THE SINNER. THE STRANGER BESIDE ME will be published on the 3rd August 2023.

Caroline also pens gothic-tinged psychological thrillers as CE Rose. Stand alone THE HOUSE OF HIDDEN SECRETS was followed by THE HOUSE ON THE WATER’S EDGE, THE SHADOWS OF RUTHERFORD HOUSE and THE ATTIC AT WILTON PLACE.

Both CE and Caroline write multi-layered, dark and edgy ‘domestic suspense’ stories that delve into complicated relationships, secrets and the moral grey area. Drawing on her days as a divorce and professional indemnity lawyer, she loves to create ordinary, relatable characters who get caught up in extraordinary situations, pressures, dilemmas or crime. She admits to a slight obsession with the human psyche, what goes on behind closed doors and beneath people’s façades. She also enjoys performing a literary sleight of hand in her novels and hopefully surprising her readers!

Website: https://carolineenglandauthor.co.uk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CazEngland

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CazEngland1/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cazengland1/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cazengland1

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-england-35888064/

AmazonUK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/~/e/B009UQC1YS

Happy reading! 🙂

Detective Sarah Noble investigates a dark case in the town of Slayton.

It began with the whispers. In the woods, in the park, and always at night. Then they came into town, down dark alleys, and in the shadows. Before long there was a knock on the door.

When the couple were found dead with their faces frozen in horror, the black-eyed children were nowhere to be seen. Until it happened again.

Detective Sarah Noble will need all her intuition – and some help from young Elliott Carter – to crack a case where nothing is as it seems.

The Night Whispers (A Slayton Thriller Book 2)

by Caroline Mitchell 

My review

It was great to be able to dive straight into The Night Whispers after reading and thoroughly enjoying book one in this series, The Midnight Man. This series and Sarah Noble are fast becoming another one of my favourites.

There is an unusual case to solve in this book. A disturbing and seemingly motiveless murder which looks like it may be connected to an unsolved case from some years before. How though!? Sarah and the team certainly have their work cut out with this one.

This is another fast-paced read. Creepy, mysterious, tense, and full of suspense. Ticks all the boxes for me! I can’t wait to read book three.

Treat yourself

I.C.Y.M.I

The Midnight Man (A Slayton Thriller Book 1) by Caroline Mitchell @Caroline_writes

Happy reading! 🙂

Best friends…

Until one night changes it all!

In this Billionaires for the Rose Sisters story, top criminal defence lawyer Brendan is used to getting everything he wants. The only thing he can’t have…? Best friend Hannah Rose. Until one night forbidden passions are unexpectedly ignited and the barriers they put in place years ago are impulsively put aside. Now, determined to recover their friendship, Brendan tries to forget about their spontaneous encounter—until Hannah reveals it had consequences…

Consequence Of Their Forbidden Night (Billionaires for the Rose Sisters, Book 2)

by Rachael Stewart 

My review

I make no secret of the fact that I LOVE Rachael Stewart’s books. I knew I was going to love Consequence of Their Forbidden Night and I wasn’t wrong.

I read and loved book one of the Billionaires for the Rose Sisters series, Billionaire’s Island Temptation, recently so I couldn’t wait to read Hannah’s story. And, what a beautiful story it is! Even though I did want to knock some sense into her at times. Brendan too occasionally, although their reluctance to let their guards down is understandable given the circumstances.

There’s not much I can say about this book without spoiling it for those who haven’t read it yet, other than to say that it is a gorgeous story of friendship and love with stunning characters. The chemistry between two of them is off the chart. Two words, kitchen counter! (WOW!) What more can I say!? Treat yourself, you won’t regret it!

**Many thanks to the lovely Rachael Stewart for my review copy**

I.C.Y.M.I

Billionaire’s Island Temptation (Billionaires for the Rose Sisters, Book 1) by Rachael Stewart @rach_b52

Happy reading! 🙂

‘I remember the day I died quite clearly.’

Blackhall Manor has witnessed many dark crimes, long before five teenage girls break in to play the Midnight Game. It was supposed to be a game, but only four girls come home.

Detective Sarah Noble has just returned to the force, and no one knows more about Blackhall Manor than her. Except perhaps Elliott Carter, who is only seven but has seen things in his dreams most adults could never imagine.

It’s a case that will bring them together and shake Sarah to her core. Will she be ready to meet the Midnight Man?

The Midnight Man (A Slayton Thriller Book 1)

by Caroline Mitchell 

My review

After adding The Bone House to my NetGalley list I realised it was book three in the Slayton Thriller series, so I had to bump books one and two to the top of my reading list. I’m so glad I did!

The Midnight Man is a brilliant read. A cracking start to a new series!

Detective Sarah Noble has returned to work following an obviously traumatic ordeal which we don’t learn about straight away. She’s restricted to light duties and her colleagues, overall, could never be accused of offering her a warm welcome back to the team. This intrigued me immediately.

There’s no time to settle in before a case forces Sarah to confront her past.

I can sort of understand the fascination of a game in a creepy old house to teenagers, although I would have been too much a chicken at that age to take part in anything of the sort. I know how powerful peer pressure can be though. Unfortunately for the teenagers of Slayton, The Midnight Game proved to be far more dangerous than they could ever have imagined.

This book had my attention from the very first page and held it to the end. It’s a fast paced, creepy thriller, full of suspense, and intriguing characters whose stories I was eager to learn.

I warmed to Sarah immediately and I look forward to seeing where her story takes her next. I already have The Night Whispers downloaded.

Treat yourself

Happy reading! 🙂

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 during the same month in previous years, since starting my blog.

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

Big thanks to those who join in regularly 🙂

Here are my reviews from May 2022 + a link to previous May FBFs….

#FlashbackFriday May 2022 with @liz_fenwick @ChristinaRoseSB @SueMoorcroft & @JaneWenhamJones #BookReviews

Have you read any of the above?

Yet More Adventures of Poppy and Amelia

by Maddy Harrisis and Misha Herwin 

Poppy and Amelia have six whole weeks of the summer holidays to spend with their friends. Or that is the plan. But nothing works out as expected. Even before the bell rings on the last day of term things start to go wrong.
Why isn’t their magic working? Why isn’t Will talking to Poppy? Is someone, or something blocking their spells?
For answers the two apprentice witches have to face hungry vampires, battle an evil witch and uncover the darkest of family secrets.

OUT NOW!

All profits from sales of “Yet More Adventures of Poppy and Amelia” will go to Leukaemia Research and here is why…. Posy Miller, Misha’s daughter and Maddy’s aunt, died of the disease aged 31. Treatment has come a long way since early 2000 but they want to do anything they can to raise money for research so that one day a cure can be found.

I’m sure you’ll all agree that this is a more than worthy cause.

Please share this post to help spread the word!

Hopefully, everyone who sees it will buy a copy (or a few!).

They make excellent gifts!

New to the series? Don’t forget to check out books one and two….

The Awesome Adventures of Poppy and Amelia

Further Adventures of Poppy and Amelia

**As with book three, all profits go to Leukaemia Research**

***Bowen’s Book Publicity is promoting this book free of charge***