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Coming Up Trumps: A Memoir by Jean Trumpington 

Coming Up Trumps: A Memoir 

by Jean Trumpington 

What a fascinating lady who led a remarkable life! I admit that I didn’t know who she was before I read this book. I must have picked it up at a book sale somewhere as I love a good memoir and I’m glad I did as it was highly entertaining!

Told with candour and wit it very much reads like you’re sitting with her over tea and cake whilst she regales you with stories from her life. And what a life! A mostly charmed childhood, a land girl followed by work at Bletchley Park. A successful marriage, motherhood, a political career, and a stint as the mayor. There isn’t much she didn’t pack in to her 96 years! This book takes us past her 90th Birthday as she determines to continue to enjoy her life to the max whilst she can. Quite the inspiration with a cracking character! She also loved Staffordshire pottery so she’s alright by me 😉

I hope she is resting in peace after her very long and full life.

Forthright, witty and deliciously opinionated, Jean Trumpington’s Coming Up Trumps is a wonderfully readable account of a life very well lived.

In this characteristically trenchant memoir, the indomitable Jean Trumpington looks back on her long and remarkable life. The daughter of an officer in the Bengal Lancers and an American heiress, Jean Campbell-Harris was born into a world of considerable privilege, but the Wall Street Crash entirely wiped out her mother’s fortune.

At fifteen the young Jean Campbell-Harris was sent to Paris to study but two years later, with the outbreak of the Second World War, she became a land girl. However, she quickly changed direction, joining naval intelligence at Bletchley Park, where she stayed for the rest of the war. After the war she worked first in Paris and then on Madison Avenue, New York, with advertising’s ‘mad men’. It was here that she met her husband, the historian Alan Barker, and their marriage, in 1954, ushered in the happiest period of her life before embarking on her distinguished political career, as a Cambridge City councillor, Mayor of Cambridge and, then, in 1980, a life peer.

Happy reading!

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Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter @CaraHunterBooks

Murder in the Family

by Cara Hunter 

Having never read a book without chapters before I have now read two in the same month! This one was a completely new format for me, written as a true crime documentary, and I wasn’t sure how I was going to get on with it at first, but I raced through it. I read it in two days, which is very quick for me. I was well and truly gripped and I think the format helped to keep me turning those pages.

A true-crime show is re-opening a twenty-year-old cold case to finally find out the truth about who murdered Luke Ryder. His stepchildren are helping with the investigations and the truths they discover along the way are nothing short of shocking. As the story unfolds it becomes more tense and the need to find out what really happened intensified. I thought I had it sussed at one point and was convinced I was right as I read on, but nope! How wrong was I! I would never have guessed. Absolutely heart-breaking.

Clever. Very clever! I loved it!

** This was our August ‘Buddy Read Book Club’ read chosen by @afsa.ahmed

Read along with…. @erin_reads_alot @fiction_book_reviews @mrskp_reads @northyorkshirereader @mrs_n_reads @booknook.mama

Great choice, Afsa! **

IT WAS A CASE THAT GRIPPED THE NATION

LUKE RYDER’S MURDER HAS NEVER BEEN SOLVED

In October 2003, Luke Ryder was found dead in the garden of the family home in London, leaving behind a wealthy older widow and three stepchildren. Nobody saw anything.

Now, secrets will be revealed – live on camera.

Years later a group of experts re-examine the evidence on Infamous, a true-crime show – with shocking results. Does the team know more than they’ve been letting on?

Or does the truth lie closer to home?

Can you solve the case before they do?

The truth will blow your mind.

Happy reading!

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Out of Sorts by Aurélie Valognes (Author), Wendeline A. Hardenberg (Translator) 

Out of Sorts

by Aurélie Valognes (Author), Wendeline A. Hardenberg (Translator) 

I really, really enjoyed Out of Sorts. Ferdinand Brun is a cantankerous old git, but I couldn’t help but like him. I can understand how he would frustrate his neighbours though!

He’s a fascinating character and I love how much he loves Daisy. My heart broke for him when he lost her. His attitude towards his daughter and his ex-wife made me sad, but I love how Juliette and Beatrice endeavour to change him. Even at his grand age, they are quite determined!

A heart-warming read. Sad, but funny. Ultimately uplifting. I loved it!

** According to Amazon I purchased the Kindle copy of Out of Sorts on the 3rd of December 2015 **

Ferdinand Brun hasn’t always been a grumpy old man. Many years ago, he was a grumpy young man. Now he’d much rather spend time with his canine companion, Daisy, than any of his nosy neighbors. But as his behavior becomes increasingly peculiar, his daughter grows concerned and begins to consider moving him into a retirement home.

In order to maintain his freedom, Ferdinand must submit to an apartment inspection by his longtime enemy, the iron-fisted concierge, Mrs. Suarez. Unfortunately, he’s never tidied up a day in his life. His neighbors, precocious ten-year-old Juliette and vivacious ninety-two-year-old Beatrice, come to the rescue. And once he lets these two into his life, things will never be the same. After an eighty-three-year reign of grouchiness, Ferdinand may finally learn that it’s never too late to start living.

Happy reading!

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Red Dirt by E.M. Reapy

Red Dirt

by E.M. Reapy

I think Red Dirt is the first book I’ve ever read which doesn’t have chapters. I found this a bit weird at first, but I soon got over it.

I found myself fascinated by these characters and their escapades. I was quite mortified when they left Hopper in the middle of nowhere! I don’t think my conscience would have ever let me sleep again. I can’t actually imagine doing anything this lot do, but I guess desperate times call for desperate measures.

This is a difficult one to review because there are no big twists or an intricate plot line, just real people making questionable choices and facing potential danger in order to scrape a living and survive. An interesting read!

** I think I must have won or been gifted this book as I have no record of buying it for myself. So, thank you if you sent it to me **

A group of young Irish migrants leave a man called Hopper for dead on an outback road in Australia. They barely know him; no-one will miss him in their world of hostels, wild nights on cheap wine and grinding work on isolated farms.

In this powerful novel about the discovery of responsibility, three young people – Fiona, Murph and Hopper – flee the collapse of their country’s economy. In the heat and endless spaces of Australia they try to escape their past, but impulsive cruelty, shame and guilt drag them down, and it is easy to make terrible choices.

Happy reading!

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The Intruders by Louise Jensen 

The Intruders

by Louise Jensen 

Wow! This is an excellent read!

Cass and James make a lovely couple. When an opportunity arises for them to live rent free for a while, giving them a chance to save for their own place, it seems too good to be true. These things often are! The house has been unoccupied for many years after a home invasion resulted in the previous owners losing their lives. Cass and James are to be caretakers of the property for a short while. I’m not sure I’d want to live there, but it does seem a shame when a house sits abandoned.

It isn’t long before weird things start happening. The tension Cass feels, particularly when she’s on her own in the property, is palpable. James seems more inclined to find rational explanations for the window that seems to keep opening itself amongst other things. I was with Cass, something wasn’t right with that house and as creepy as it is I couldn’t stop reading. As the story progresses things become even more disturbing, fast-paced, and jaw-dropping. The chapters seemed to get shorter and the need to find out where the story was heading more urgent. I would never have guessed it in a million years! Absolutely brilliantly written. I loved it!

This was our Instagram Buddy Read Book Club pick for July, chosen by @katies_cosy_reading_corner

Excellent choice, Katie!

Read along with @afsa.ahmed @readswithdanii @erin_reads_alot @fiction_book_reviews @the_bookshelf_2023 @lollysbooknook @mrskp_reads @northyorkshirereader @mrs_n_reads @yorkshire.bookworm & @booknook.mama

** I purchased a paperback copy for the purpose of the buddy read **

They were told to leave. They should have listened.

The perfect opportunity…

A manor house available rent-free to house-sitters is an offer too good to miss for Cass and James, who have been saving for a deposit on their own home for so long.

Although it had been abandoned for almost thirty years, after a home invasion left almost all the inhabitants dead, it is an amazing chance for them to build their future.

But is it worth the price?

Shortly after moving in things take a sinister turn. Objects disappear and turn up in odd places, the clock always stops at the same time, the house is strangely oppressive and sometimes it feels like Cass and James are not alone.

Newington House may have bad energy, and a dark reputation. But surely there’s no reason for history to repeat itself, is there?

Treat yourself

I.C.Y.M.I

#TheSister @Fab_fiction @bookouture @thecrimevault @littlebookcafe #BookReview #PaperbackRelease
The Gift by Louise Jensen @Fab_fiction @bookouture #BlogTour #BookReview

Happy reading!

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Alien Lord’s Captive (Warriors of the Lathar Book 1) by Mina Carter @minacarter

Alien Lord’s Captive (Warriors of the Lathar Book 1) 

by Mina Carter 

If you’re a regular reader of my blog you will know that this isn’t my usual kind of read, but according to Amazon I bought the kindle copy on the 15th of November 2021, so someone must have recommended it to me back then.

I have to say that I enjoyed it more than I expected. Alien romance wouldn’t be my go-to genre, but this is really well written, and I really enjoyed it once I got into it. This is a romance which begins with a forced proximity which made me feel a bit queasy at first. It soon becomes obvious though that Cat won’t need to be forced to do anything she doesn’t want to. She’s a strong character who quickly becomes enamoured with her alien captor. When I say alien, he isn’t much different to a human man, apart from a feline eye and he’s much bigger (in every sense of the word 😉). I enjoyed how their romance and love for one another blossoms. There is A LOT of heat between the two of them! If you like a bit of passion in your books and are looking for an escape from the real world, then maybe give this one a try.

I’m not sure I loved this enough to immediately read the following nineteen books in this twenty-book series, but I have added book two to my Wishlist! Thank you to whoever it was who brought this series to my attention.

She’s trained for everything up to and including alien invasion. One problem. No one told her aliens would be so damn sexy.

It’s simple. When her base is attacked by aliens, Cat has to fight. Whenever and however possible. But the alien leader, Tarrick, has her in his sights and she has one choice. Come to his bed or things go badly for her friends.

Determined to resist, it’s hard to remember what she’s fighting against when her alien captor is built like a god and his touch sets her body on fire. She only has to fool him for a while, just long enough to get the information they need to escape. Long enough to find out her sexy alien isn’t the monster she thought… But when the time comes, will she want to leave?

He needs a female, or they all die.

His species is dying. Not today, maybe not tomorrow, but with no females, their days are numbered. Finding a base full of females is a bounty Tarrick can’t ignore. Nor can he ignore the delicate little female who stirs his blood yet dares to defy him at every step. Then a dangerous rival challenges his claim on Terran space and all it’s females. He can’t afford to lose control, or his clan is doomed.

When his treasured female is taken, he’ll do anything to rescue her. Including starting an intergalactic war…

Treat yourself

Happy reading!

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The Torments (The Annie Jackson Mysteries Book 2) by Michael J. Malone @michaelJmalone1 @OrendaBooks

The Torments (The Annie Jackson Mysteries Book 2)

by Michael J. Malone 

After reading and thoroughly enjoying The Murmurs (Book one in the Annie Jackson series) I couldn’t resist purchasing book two and bumping it to the top of my TBR list!

Annie is a very likeable character. One with a family curse I don’t envy her for. I’m not surprised she wants to hide away in her remote cottage where she gets some peace from everything.

However, when her adoptive mother begs for her help as her nephew has gone missing, she feels obliged to do whatever she can do to help although her visions don’t really work that way. With the help of her brother, Lewis, she leaves her sanctuary, unaware of the danger she’s about to be confronted with.

This is another fast paced, suspenseful novel which I found to be more than a little creepy. Some of the characters are certainly more than a little creepy! Again, I was completely invested from the very beginning. It was extremely difficult to put down. I would have happily read it in one sitting if I could have. I’m looking forward to book three, The Howling, but that isn’t being released until September. If you haven’t already, I recommend you catch up with the series in the meantime like I have. You won’t regret it!

** I purchased a paperback copy of The Torments on the 18th of June 2025 **

Annie surged forward, but she was too slow, too late.

A hand came over and down, and she felt a sharp pain at the back of her neck.

Then all became smoke, and silence.

Hiding from the world in her little white cottage on the shores of a loch, Annie Jackson is fighting to come to terms with the world of the murmurs, a curse that has haunted female members of her family for centuries.

While she is within the ancient, heavy stone of the old dwelling, the voices merely buzz, but the moment she steps outside the door they clamour to torment her all over again, bringing with them shocking visions of imminent deaths.

Into this oasis comes her adoptive mother, Mandy McEvoy, begging for Annie’s help. Mandy’s nephew Damien has gone missing, after dropping off his four-year old son at his mother’s home.

Unable to refuse, but terrified to leave her sanctuary, Annie, with the help of her brother Lewis, is drawn in to a secretive, seductive world that will have her question everything she holds dear, while Lewis’ life may be changed forever…

The second book in the critically acclaimed Annie Jackson Mysteries series, The Torments is both a contemporary gothic thriller and a spellbinding mystery that deeps deep into a past that should, perhaps, remain undisturbed…

Treat yourself

I.C.Y.M.I

The Murmurs (The Annie Jackson Mysteries Book 1) by Michael J. Malone @michaelJmalone1 @OrendaBooks

Happy reading!

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Happier Days by Marcie Steele @marcie_steele @writermels

Happier Days

by Marcie Steele 

Well, if you’re looking for a beautifully written, feel-good story full of romance and gorgeous characters then look no further. Marcie Steele never fails to write characters who feel completely real. Characters who you find yourself rooting for 100%, praying for their happiness.

I knew I was going to love this book before I even started it, and I wasn’t wrong. There isn’t a single book written by Marcie/Mel that I haven’t adored.

I was completely captivated by Ava and Jack’s love story. They’ve both had their sad times, and grief never really leaves you, but in finding each other again they certainly can look forward to happier days!

Another gorgeous read! One I will happily recommend to anyone who will listen! 😊

** Many thanks to Marcie Steele for my kindle review copy. (Apologies for the delay in publishing my review.) Proud to be part of #TeamSherratt **

Some memories never fade – some hearts never stop hoping

When work as a photographer takes her back to a village she knows well, Ava isn’t expecting Jack to be as picture perfect as he is in her memories from all those years ago.

Set on the outskirts of Somerley, Sapphire Hotel is in need of a makeover. Its owners, Jack’s parents, are not keen on change after the death of his brother, but he encourages them to hire a PR company to boost trade. Whoever is sent to do the job will have their work cut out and, as project manager, will have to answer to him.

An untimely meeting has old friendships and emotions reawakened. Will Ava discover that true love isn’t a burden, but a wonderful thing? And will Jack find a way to let go of the past and risk his heart again?

Treat yourself….

Happy reading!

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The Man I Think I Know by Mike Gayle @mikegayle

The Man I Think I Know

by Mike Gayle

What a gorgeous story this is!

When we meet James, he is living with his parents who have been looking after him since his tragic “incident”. He is itching to get his independence back but his parents, and his sister, are naturally worried about him living on his own again.

When we meet Danny, he has no option but to take the first job he can find as he’s having his dole money stopped. He would never have expected to bump into an old school friend at such an establishment.

Two men living completely different lives, but with a similar past. The most unlikely of friends.

However, fate intervenes and what follows is such a beautifully written story of a friendship that blossoms through mutual respect and a mutual need for a new start in life.

I absolutely loved it! It’s heartfelt, emotional, funny, and inspiring. Sad at times but ultimately uplifting. I certainly had a smile on my face at the end.

This is my first ever Mike Gayle book, but it will not be my last. I have all his other books on my Amazon Wishlist now! 😊

Ever since The Incident, James DeWitt has stayed on the safe side.

He likes to know what happens next.

Danny Allen is not on the safe side. He is more past the point of no return.

The past is about to catch up with both of them in a way that which will change their lives forever, unexpectedly.

But redemption can come in the most unlikely ways.

Treat yourself….

Happy reading!

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Borderline by Graeme Cumming @GraemeCumming63 #BookPromotion @BoBookPublicity

When the system isn’t working, work outside the system.

A search for a missing man thrusts Rand Scott into the dark realms of homelessness, drug dealing and sex clubs.

Kirsty Moore wants to find her brother Johnny, a one-time rock star.

The police also want him – for murder.

And there are others looking who don’t play nicely.

A simple job turns deadly as Rand uncovers a world where money talks louder than the screams of innocent bystanders.

Borderline 

by Graeme Cumming 

OUT NOW!

https://mybook.to/7xBagB

Reviews

“Thirty years ago the dominant voice in PI fiction was Robert B. Parker. His ‘Spenser’ novels are probably the best thing since sliced Chandler. Ever since I first read a Spenser novel I’ve wondered about an English Spenser to no particular conclusion, but in Graeme Cumming’s ‘Rand’ Scott (yes, that really is his name) I think we have a contender. Rand is the Spenser mix of borderline criminal and white knight, the hard-case with a heart of gold. That said, Cumming doesn’t pretend to copy Parker’s style, his voice is his own, his dialogue crisp, his sense of place superb … and he doesn’t give a flying F about food (sorry, Robert B.) Borderline is the first book in what I hope becomes a regular series.” – John Lawton, best-selling author of the Inspector Troy and the Joe Wilderness series

“Gritty, sharp-witted, and packing a serious emotional punch! And Rand is a hero worth turning the pages for.” – Lauren North, Author of CLICKBAIT & I’M HER MOTHER

“What an incredible novel. Cumming’s strong and authentic writing explores the murkiest worlds of covert policing in the most gripping and compelling way. Exquisitely plotted and expertly told.” – Graham Bartlett, former detective and Sunday Times bestselling author

“Rand Scott is a character I invested in, he is a man who is pretty complex, with hidden depths for sure. He surprised me at times as the story unfolded. A cracker of a thriller that has the perfect ingredients for a great read!! Gritty, dark and twists that are perfectly placed.” – Beyond the Books, Book Blogger