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Filthy Rich Temptation (Filthy Rich Billionaires Book 1) by Rachael Stewart @rach_b52 @BoldwoodBooks

Filthy Rich Temptation (Filthy Rich Billionaires Book 1)

by Rachael Stewart 

WOW! What a story this is!

It’s probably a good job my husband doesn’t read my book reviews because I think I love Theo. I fell in love with him in chapter one. He’s just the most delicious character. I defy anyone to resist his charms!

Theo is a self-made billionaire, but this is far from the focus of this story. It’s barely mentioned really, although there are obvious nods to it such as him living in a London penthouse apartment overlooking the Thames, and owning a beach house in Pembrokeshire with a live-in housekeeper. He’s a modest character though, and he’s trying his best to support his best friend by helping her younger sister and her three-year-old daughter after fleeing an abusive relationship. The problem is, he has been attracted to Sadie for longer than he cares to admit. How is he supposed to live in such close proximity to her and keep his feelings under control!?

Sadie has always carried a torch for Theo and eventually makes her feelings quite clear, making her so much more difficult for Theo to resist….

The way Theo is with Sadie reminds me very much of how my husband is with me, which is why I think I am completely besotted with him. The chemistry between these two is off the charts! I hope they’re still the same 26 years later as we are.

With scorching scenes (hot is an understatement!) as well as heart-meltingly romantic ones I absolutely loved Theo’s and Sadie’s story. They have their stumbling blocks along the way, of course, but they get there in the end and that’s the most important thing. Who doesn’t love a happy ending!?

I adored this book and will have no problem recommending to anyone and everyone.

** I won a paperback copy of Filthy Rich Temptation in a recent giveaway. Thank you to Rachael Stewart and Boldwood Books **

Theo

Making my first billion? Easy. Surviving Sadie — and her three-year-old — moving in? Pure torture. She’s my best friend’s little sister, the one girl I should never touch. Especially after that reckless kiss seven years ago…the kiss that ruined everything.

Now she’s here, under my roof, in every corner of my thoughts. Vulnerable. Off-limits. And so beautiful it hurts. I promised myself I’d protect her, keep my distance. But every laugh, every accidental touch, makes it harder to remember why I ever said no.

Sadie

I ran to Theo for safety, but the moment I walked through his door, I knew I wasn’t just in danger from my ex—I was in danger of falling again. He thinks he’s protecting me, keeping his distance. But every smouldering look says otherwise.

And every night, I wonder: what if I kissed him again? He thinks he’s just helping. But he doesn’t see how he’s rewiring my heart—how my daughter already adores him. I’m supposed to be surviving, not falling. But I know what I want…him. His hands. His mouth. His body. Even if it’s the one thing he swore I couldn’t have…

Treat yourself

Happy reading!

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Rupture (Dark Iceland Book 3) by Ragnar Jónasson (Author) @ragnarjo Quentin Bates (Translator) @OrendaBooks

Rupture (Dark Iceland Book 3)

by Ragnar Jónasson (Author) Quentin Bates (Translator) 

Rupture is another brilliant addition to the Dark Iceland series. I am invested in these characters now and this series has me completely captivated.

This book features a fascinating storyline about two young couples who move to an uninhabited part of Hedinsfjörður in 1955. When one of the sister’s dies it’s unclear if she committed suicide or if it was a tragic accident. The truth has never been proven. Ari Thór is determined to find out. Now, I love being at home and I’m perfectly comfortable in my own company, but we humans are social animals, and I can’t imagine living somewhere so isolated and cut off from the rest of the world! I would be climbing the walls within a week. I do wonder what makes people want to live such a solitary life and I was as determined as Ari Thór to discover why these people would willingly choose this lifestyle. I never would have guessed….

Along side this case, there’s a stalker on the loose and a missing child to contend with as well as the town being on lockdown. Not the easiest of times to conduct an investigation.

Brilliantly written, tense, atmospheric, I can easily visualise the setting as if I was there myself and I’ve never been to Iceland! Excellent characters who grow on me more with each book in the series. I can’t recommend this book/series highly enough. Another easy five stars for me!

I’ve already started book four, Whiteout.

1955.Two young couples move to the uninhabited, isolated fjord of Hedinsfjörður. Their stay ends abruptly when one of the women meets her death in mysterious circumstances. The case is never solved. Fifty years later an old photograph comes to light, and it becomes clear that the couples may not have been alone on the fjord after all…

In nearby Siglufjörður, young policeman Ari Thór tries to piece together what really happened that fateful night, in a town where no one wants to know, where secrets are a way of life. He’s assisted by Ísrún, a news reporter in Reykjavik, who is investigating an increasingly chilling case of her own. Things take a sinister turn when a child goes missing in broad daylight. With a stalker on the loose, and the town of Siglufjörður in quarantine, the past might just come back to haunt them.

I.C.Y.M.I

Snowblind (Dark Iceland Book 1) by Ragnar Jónasson (Author) Quentin Bates (Translator) @ragnarjo @OrendaBooks
Blackout (Dark Iceland Book 2) by Ragnar Jónasson (Author), Quentin Bates (Translator)

Happy reading!

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Christmas with the Princes by Hannah Langdon #PublicationDay #NetGalley #NetGalleyUK

Christmas with the Princes

by Hannah Langdon 

I wouldn’t usually read a Christmas book this early in the year, but I requested this on NetGalley when I found out that Hannah Langdon had very sadly passed away, suddenly and unexpectedly, after a short illness. Her author friends were keen to get as many people as possible to pre-order and/or request on NetGalley so, of course, I was more than happy to support. My heart goes out to Hannah’s family, friends, and colleagues.

This book is a gorgeous read! I was completely swept away with the romance of it, and it didn’t matter to me at all that we’re a little way off Christmas yet. I don’t think there’s any reason why this book would have to be read exclusively at Christmas time, although it would certainly enhance your enjoyment of the festive season.

Laura is a private nurse who is embarking on a new position at the estate of Lyonscroft. She is to care for Marilise, who is a wonderful character. The two of them hit it off straight away and Laura soon settles in. She is struggling with grief and immersing herself in her work seems to be her only option for now. She is also trying to avoid her sister’s wedding plans for as long as possible. A sister who is the polar opposite of Laura, self-centred and entitled.

When Laura first meets Nick Prince, and his beloved dog, in a hedge rescue situation, she doesn’t realise he is the heir to Lyonscroft. As she gets to know him further, he does nothing much to warm himself to her initially, but she soon has a softening effect on him, and he starts to grow on her.

As their romance blossoms, Lyonscroft begins to embrace Christmas like never before, bringing light, laughter, love, and excitement to a house previously devoid of joy. A brighter future for the heir indeed.

A beautiful story which I loved!

I need to catch up with books one and two now. I wish I had discovered Hannah Langdon before now.

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

A swoon-worthy tale of second chances and Christmas magic that will have you believing in holiday miracles!

When Laura Wilde arrives at the snow-dusted English estate of Lyonscroft for Christmas, she’s fleeing her sister’s wedding chaos and seeking refuge in her job as a private nurse. But this enchanting manor holds secrets – not least why the devastatingly handsome heir, Nick Prince, seems determined to keep everyone at arm’s length…

Nick wants nothing more than to escape Christmas and sell the family estate, but Laura’s arrival changes everything. As she cares for his beloved grandmother, the spirited Princess Marilise, Laura finds herself caught between two worlds: the warmth and wisdom of an extraordinary woman with stories to tell, and the guarded heart of a man with a past he doesn’t want to talk about.

But when Laura transforms the cold, unwelcoming house into a magical Christmas wonderland, something shifts. Between unexpected dog rescues and stolen moments under the mistletoe, Laura must decide: will she play it safe and stick to her carefully ordered life, or risk everything for a love that could heal them both?

Perfect for fans of Heidi Swain, Beth Moran and Phillipa Ashley.

Happy reading!

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Atticus Arnott’s Great Adventure by Caroline James @CarolineJames12

Atticus Arnott’s Great Adventure

by Caroline James 

What a fabulous, feel-good story this is! I absolutely loved it!

I love Atticus. My heart went out to him at the start. He doesn’t find much joy in life since he lost the love of his life. His son has taken over his farm and turned it into a thriving business, but Arnott just isn’t interested in it much. He takes himself off for walks with his dog, Ness, and generally just tries to stay out of everyone’s way. So sad.

One day though his grandson convinces him to renovate his old campervan, giving it a new lease of life. Atticus decides to bite the bullet and drive it to Spain. I’m not sure I’d be that brave at my age, let along 70. Little did he know just how much this was going to change the rest of his life.

His daughter welcomes the change in him and supports his sense of adventure.

His son, not so much. He’s not the most likable of characters although I can understand how some children, however old they are, find it difficult to accept a parent moving on after the death of the other. Brother and sister couldn’t be any different to each other.

I loved joining Atticus on his travels, meeting his new friends, letting his hair down, and learning to embrace life again. I would absolutely follow his Instagram account!

A beautifully written, heart-warming read which left me with a smile and happy tear.

** Many thanks to Caroline James for my gifted Kindle copy **

When seventy-year-old Atticus Arnott drives his beloved campervan from the rainy hills of Cumbria to the golden coast of Spain, his village is left reeling. With only his loyal collie, Ness, by his side, Atticus sets out in search of sunshine and serenity—but his journey of travel and self-discovery in Spain soon brings surprises he never imagined.

Back in Ireland, Atticus’s daughter Mary is facing a crisis of her own. As her picture-perfect life starts to crumble, she must find the courage to put herself first for once and rediscover the dreams she set aside long ago.

From a later in life romance to an uplifting women’s fiction story about family, Atticus Arnott’s Great Adventure is a heartwarming travel romance story perfect for fans of escapist holiday read fiction. Proof that it’s never too late to start over, this delightful romcom will inspire readers to embrace the unknown with open arms.

Happy reading!

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The Harbinder Kaur series, books 2-4 by Elly Griffiths

I am SO behind with writing reviews I thought I would write one overview for the rest of the DS Harbinder Kaur series which I have listened to consecutively on Audible recently….

The Postscript Murders 

Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Elly Griffiths (Author), Nina Wadia (Narrator), Quercus (Publisher)

When an elderly lady with a heart condition dies suddenly, as sad as it is, you’d be forgiven for assuming there’s nothing suspicious with that. Peggy is a fascinating character, and Harbinder soon realises that not all is as it first seems.

Another excellent crime thriller with plenty of twists and turns.

Bleeding Heart Yard 

Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Elly Griffiths (Author), Candida Gubbins (Narrator), Jane Collingwood (Narrator), Nina Wadia (Narrator), Quercus (Publisher)

I really enjoyed the unusual storyline of this book. Centred around DS Caitlin Fitzgerald. A detective with a secret of her own. A secret she’s had to bury in order to function and live a ‘normal’ life. I can’t even imagine how anyone would begin to do that. Thirty years later, she finds herself attending a school reunion where things take a sinister turn and I couldn’t wait to find out how it was all going to end. Shocked!

The Last Word 

Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Elly Griffiths (Author), Nina Wadia (Narrator), Quercus (Publisher)

This book focuses more on characters featured in book two, The Postscript Murders, Natalka and Edwin, with Harbinder more of a featured character. Natalka and Edwin now run a private detective agency and Natalka now lives with Benedict.

I like that these characters are awarded their own book in the series, although I did miss Harbinder.

Another enjoyable whodunnit which reminded me of The Thursday Murder Club in a way.

I really like Harbinder as a person and a detective. This book/series is full of fabulous characters and compelling storylines. I really liked the narrator of this series too. Does anyone know if there will be a book five?

I.C.Y.M.I

The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths. Audible Audiobook – Unabridged #BookReview

Happy reading/listening!

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Cinderella’s Fling With The Billionaire (Sun, Sea and Swept Away Book 2) by Rachael Stewart @rach_b52

Cinderella’s Fling With The Billionaire (Sun, Sea and Swept Away Book 2) 

by Rachael Stewart 

Oh, my goodness! What a gorgeous read this is! I can always trust Rachael Stewart to make me smile and warm my heart. She writes such beautiful characters, often with difficult pasts, who manage to find happiness with each other despite the odds. I love it!

Maria is a single mother of an eighteen-year-old daughter. It has been just the two of them for a long time after Maria’s painful split from her daughter’s father. She is determined not to be answerable to any man again.

Then in walks Tim. Obviously easy on the eye, Maria can’t resist a night of fun. One night only. No strings attached.

Fate has other ideas though and I loved how their story unfolds.

Tim is just gorgeous. I think in Maria’s situation I might snatch him up without a second thought, but I understand her reluctance. Having good looks and being a billionaire is not enough to convince her to surrender her heart again in a hurry. Her daughter will always be her priority. Tim’s daughter is his priority too, but after devastating loss he isn’t ready to give up on the first woman who has made him feel the way he hasn’t for a long time.

I loved it! The characters, the yacht, the sunsets, the angst, the romance, the happy ending. I loved it all!

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

In this Sun, Sea and Swept Away story, single mum Maria has fought to reclaim her world from her controlling ex. Romance is the last thing on her mind—until billionaire widower Tim walks into her bar, igniting a passion she thought she’d buried. A brief fling was meant to be enough, until they find themselves unexpectedly reunited on a luxury superyacht. Working as a stewardess, Maria is mortified to be serving the man she shared a bed with. Worse still, their attraction is stronger than ever…

Happy reading!

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Geneva by Richard Armitage 

Geneva

by Richard Armitage 

Geneva was our Buddy Read Book Club choice for September. It isn’t a book that had been on my radar beforehand, but I really enjoyed it in the end.

If I’m honest I did find it a bit slow to start, but I soon found myself invested. My heart went out to Sarah Collier. A brilliant scientist facing early onset dementia. I can only imagine. It must be terrifying!

I could understand Sarah’s interest in a potentially life-changing new treatment. I could understand her reluctance to endorse it without knowing exactly what it involves though. I could understand her husband being desperate to go to Geneva in the hope of this new technology being what might save his wife. It was always going to be a challenging trip for them though.

Little did I know.

As the story progressed, I was desperate to find out what was going on and I was praying for Sarah the whole time. I had an uneasy feeling as I turned the pages, but I had no idea why. As I started to realise, I felt a bit sick. Honestly, it’s shocking how deceitful some people can be and the lengths they are prepared to go to get what they want.

A good read!

Our September Buddy Read Book Club pick, Geneva by Richard Armitage, chosen by @the_bookshelf_2023

Read along with –

@beth.booksandblankets

@readswithdanii

@northyorkshirereader

@read.crochet.coffee

@mrs_n_reads

When you have it all
Sarah Collier has been lucky: she’s got a glittering scientific career and a husband who loves her more than anything.
And you start to lose it
But now she’s showing signs of early Alzheimer’s, and the only hope for a cure is in a controversial new technology being unveiled in Switzerland.
You’d go anywhere for help
In Geneva, as events turn dangerous and her memory loss worsens, Sarah has to decide who to trust: the people around her – or, despite her symptoms, herself.

Happy reading!

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Blackout (Dark Iceland Book 2) by Ragnar Jónasson (Author), Quentin Bates (Translator)

Blackout (Dark Iceland Book 2) 

by Ragnar Jónasson (Author), Quentin Bates (Translator)

I had to start Blackout as soon as I’d finished book one in the Dark Iceland series, Snowblind, as I found myself quite invested in these characters. I am even more so now.

In this book we experience summer in Northern Iceland. Very different to the oppressive atmosphere of the dark winters. It sounds like such a beautiful country.

In this book Ari Thor and his colleagues are faced with a complex case whilst dealing with their own personal battles. Full of suspense, I was eager to find out where this story would lead. I thoroughly enjoyed the police procedural aspects of this story. I also enjoyed the story from the perspective of a journalist. As always, I do like learning more about the characters and their personal lives. I know some crime thriller readers don’t, but for me it helps to make them more real and believable. After all, whatever job anyone does it doesn’t necessarily define them.

This book ticks all the boxes for me again. I have already started book 3 in the series, Rupture.

On the shores of a tranquil fjord in Northern Iceland, a man is brutally beaten to death on a bright summer’s night. As the 24-hour light of the arctic summer is transformed into darkness by an ash cloud from a recent volcanic eruption, a young reporter leaves Reykajvik to investigate on her own, unaware that an innocent person’s life hangs in the balance.

Ari Thór Arason and his colleagues on the tiny police force in Siglufjörður struggle with an increasingly perplexing case, while their own serious personal problems push them to the limit. What secrets does the dead man harbour, and what is the young reporter hiding? As silent, unspoken horrors from the past threaten them all, and the darkness deepens, it’s a race against time to find the killer before someone else dies…

I.C.Y.M.I

Snowblind (Dark Iceland Book 1) by Ragnar Jónasson (Author) Quentin Bates (Translator) @ragnarjo @OrendaBooks

Happy reading!

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#FlashbackFriday October 2025

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 October 2024 + a link to previous October FBFs….

Plan B by Alison Lingwood #BookPromotion @BoBookPublicity #ShortStories #Fundraising #BritishDeafAssociation

Of Sands and Tides: The Chronicles of Captain Georgianna Forsythe by Jan Edwards @Jancoledwards

Fake Fling With The Billionaire (Mills & Boon True Love) by Rachael Stewart @rach_b52
#FlashbackFriday October 2024

Happy reading!