Posted on by Chat About Books

Safe at Home by Mel Sherratt 

Safe at Home

by Mel Sherratt 

Safe at Home is one of Mel Sherratt’s standalone novels. I have loved every book she has published, and this one has been no exception.

Clara has had a troubled past and she battles daily with her inner demons. She just wants to be loved and accepted. To find a home where she feels safe and secure. To do some good in the world, so she can finally feel good about herself. This was never going to be easy for Clara though and my heart went out to her, especially as I got to know her better. She’s done things she’s not proud of and paid for them. I really liked her though. I was rooting for her to find peace and the life she was craving. It’s understandable that others might be wary though when they learn of her past.

Safe at Home is a highly emotional read, featuring characters you could so easily have living in your street. Struggling in ways you might never know. Mel Sherratt always manages to write flawed characters you can’t help but like, and can easily empathise with, despite what they might have done.

Character driven psychological fiction at its finest!

I was glued to my kindle, as I always am with Mel’s books.

** Many thanks to Mel Sherratt for my kindle review copy. Proud to be part of #TeamSherratt **

She just wants to belong. But some scars run too deep.

Clara’s past is never far behind—but this time, she’s determined to outrun it. Starting over as a support worker, she finds unexpected refuge in Cedric House, the home of kind-hearted widow Roberta. It feels like a second chance. Maybe even a home.

But Clara is no stranger to damage—nor to the anger simmering just beneath the surface. She’s trying: therapy, anger management, staying out of trouble.

Then everything begins to crack. A workplace confrontation. A neighbourly dispute. And the fragile peace she’s fought so hard for starts to slip through her fingers.

Safe at Home is a raw and moving portrait of a woman on the edge—craving connection, battling inner demons, and trying to prove that even the most broken people deserve a place to belong.

Happy reading!

Posted on by Chat About Books

Fragile by Sarah Hilary @sarah_hilary

Fragile

by Sarah Hilary

Not long after we meet Nell, she recognises there is a job opportunity at Starling Villas which might just be the first step in turning her life around. She convinces the man of the house, Robin, to take her on as his live in housekeeper. Being a runaway from her foster home this feels like a huge step up for her and she begins to settle. Although the house sounds really creepy to me so I’m not sure I’d want to live and work there. As Nell starts to make progress with the house Robin’s wife turns up throwing a cat among the pigeons (to put it mildly!).

Nell is a fascinating character. I couldn’t help but feel for her, especially as the story progresses. She’s done things she isn’t proud of, just to survive. Her relationship with Joe is a complicated one, especially given their shared secrets. A secret that underpins the whole story, maintaining the tension throughout. Their foster ‘mother’ is quite the piece of work!

This is quite an unsettling read. I felt on edge, wondering what might happen next and what truths might be revealed. To say I was intrigued would be an understatement. The creepy, tense, atmosphere created is quite addictive. An extremely clever psychological thriller.

Brilliant!

** My paperback copy of Fragile was a Wishlist gift from one of my very lovely Bookstagram friends **

Nell Ballard is a runaway. A former foster child with a dark secret she is desperately trying to keep, all Nell wants is to find a place she can belong.

So when a job comes up at Starling Villas, home to the enigmatic Robin Wilder, she seizes the opportunity with both hands.

But her new lodgings may not be the safe haven that she was hoping for. Her employer lives by a set of rigid rules and she soon sees he is hiding secrets of his own.

But is Nell’s arrival at the Villas really the coincidence it seems? After all, she knows more than most how fragile people can be – and how easily they can be to break . . .

Happy reading!

Posted on by Chat About Books

Will Audible – Unabridged by Will Smith (Author, Narrator), Mark Manson (Author), Penguin Audio (Publisher)

Will 

Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Will Smith (Author, Narrator), Mark Manson (Author), Penguin Audio (Publisher)

Will has been waiting patiently in my Audible library since December 2021 (I listen to them in order of purchase) and this is a long one (over fifteen hours), so it’s taken me a while to get through. I have thoroughly enjoyed it though!

I love Will Smith. I LOVED The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, I love his music, and I love his films. I was interested to listen to “Will” and I wasn’t disappointed. This is a very frank and honest account of his life from childhood onwards. It’s quite the eye-opener at times!

Sometimes sad, touching, emotional, but more often than not hilarious. Highly entertaining!

I recommend to any fan.

Narrated by Will Smith.

One of the most dynamic and globally recognised entertainment forces of our time opens up fully about his life, in a brave and inspiring book that traces his learning curve to a place where outer success, inner happiness and human connection are aligned. Along the way, Will tells the story in full of one of the most amazing rides through the worlds of music and film that anyone has ever had.

Will Smith’s transformation from a fearful child in a tense West Philadelphia home to one of the biggest pop stars of his era and then one of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood history, with a string of box office successes that will likely never be broken, is an epic tale of inner transformation and outer triumph, and Will tells it astonishingly well. But it’s only half the story.

Will Smith thought, with good reason, that he had won at life: not only was his own success unparalleled, his whole family was at the pinnacle of the entertainment world. Only they didn’t see it that way: they felt more like star performers in his circus, a seven-days-a-week job they hadn’t signed up for. It turned out Will Smith’s education wasn’t nearly over.

This memoir is the product of a profound journey of self-knowledge, a reckoning with all that your will can get you and all that it can leave behind. Written with the help of Mark Manson, author of the multimillion-copy best seller The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, Will is the story of how one exceptional man mastered his own emotions, written in a way that can help everyone else do the same. Few of us will know the pressure of performing on the world’s biggest stages for the highest of stakes, but we can all understand that the fuel that works for one stage of our journey might have to be changed if we want to make it all the way home. The combination of genuine wisdom of universal value and a life story that is preposterously entertaining, even astonishing, puts Will the book, like its author, in a category by itself.

Happy reading/listening!

Posted on by Chat About Books

Brides and Bouquets At Cedarwood Lodge by Rebecca Raisin

Brides and Bouquets At Cedarwood Lodge

by Rebecca Raisin

I started Brides and Bouquets immediately after finishing the first book in this series, Celebrations and Confetti, as I really love the characters and the feel-good story. This book is another lovely instalment. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The race is on for Clio to have Cedarwood Lodge ready in time for the massive Wedding Expo she has planned to help entice brides into holding a Christmas wedding at the lodge. Of course, this isn’t without its hiccups and at one point it seems like everything is against her. However, she enlists the help of the handsome project manager we met in book one and all is right with the world again.

Honestly, if I was looking for venues to get married, Cedarwood Lodge would be at the top of my list. I got married in April, but a Christmas wedding in such a beautiful setting sounds amazing! The whole set up sounds stunning! How could you not be swept away with the romance of it all!?

I thought it might be weird reading a Christmassy book in April/May, but it really wasn’t. I loved it! It’s beautifully written feel-good fiction at its finest.

I look forward to reading book three but due to other review commitments I haven’t been able to jump straight into it.

** I purchased the kindle edition of Brides and Bouquets on the 27th of April 2025 (Our wedding Anniversary!) after finishing book one **

Snow is falling at Cedarwood Lodge in the second part of the feel-good romance serial from best selling author, Rebecca Raisin!

Dreaming of a happily ever after at Cedarwood Lodge is Clio Winters’ current focus, especially with a winter wonderland wedding expo planned. But with brides coming from far and wide the heat is on for Clio to fulfil everyone’s dream of a Christmas wedding!

It seems like Clio’s new business might be off to a rocky start and surrounded by love struck brides she can’t help but hope for a little Christmas romance of her own…

Cedarwood Lodge is a delectable romance told in three parts – following Clio Winters journey back to her hometown of Evergreen. This is Part Two.

I.C.Y.M.I

Celebrations and Confetti At Cedarwood Lodge by Rebecca Raisin 

Happy reading!

Posted on by Chat About Books · 4 Comments

Boo Bear’s Light: An A B C Rhyming Picture Book for Children by Catherine Ann Russell (Author), Jessica Robin Harkey (Illustrator), Basketful Relief Project (Publisher) #Spotlight #BookReview

Boo Bear’s Light:

An A B C Rhyming Picture Book for Children

by Catherine Ann Russell (Author), Jessica Robin Harkey (Illustrator), Basketful Relief Project (Publisher)

When Catherine contacted me about reviewing Boo Bear’s Light, I realised that I had purchased the book for my nephew’s daughter last Christmas 🙂

So, I asked my nephew if he would send me a short review….

As a parent the things I’ve loved about Boo Bears light, besides the positive messages of kindness and helping others, is the opportunity to practice letters, sounds with rhymes. The fun of discovering the hidden letters on each page is great to talk about and the shapes of letters are challenging enough even to keep parents searching. My eldest loves finding these and gets super excited when she beats me. When I asked her what she makes of the book she said “It’s one of my favourite Christmas presents. I love it.” Definitely a great book for story time.

Embark On A Wonderful Rhyming Adventure As You Learn the Value of all Living Creatures, Great and Small!

Kindness goes a long way – and when Boo Bear discovers a lost and injured firefly named Jack, he makes it his mission to help his new friend and bring him home to his family. With the help of his supportive parents mama bear and papa bear, Boo Bear embarks on a rescue mission that will light up your day and leave no letter unturned!

Beautifully written by multi-award-winning author Catherine Ann Russell with vibrant illustrations from Jessica Robin Harkey, Boo Bear’s Light shares a heartwarming moral lesson about the transformative power of love, inviting children on an unforgettable journey from A to Z!

Inside the book, you’ll discover:

  1. A Beautiful Rhyming Story that Makes Learning the Alphabet Educational and Entertaining
  2. A Memorable Way to Learn New Rhythms and Words and Expand Your Little One’s Vocabulary
  3. Colourful Illustrations that Ignite Curiosity, Wonder and Spark Your Child’s Imagination as They Hunt for a Hidden Letter in Each Panel
  4. Vital Moral Lessons about the Miracle of Love, Kindness, & Helping Those In Need
  5. A Wonderful Bedtime Story, Classroom Resource, and Teaching Tool For Boys & Girls Ages 0-7

And So Much More…

Ideal for parents & educators who want to raise compassionate children while teaching them essential early learning skills, Boo Bear’s Light will quickly become a treasured part of your bookshelf.

So, vamoose! Kick up the zeal! Dive on in and let the adventure begin!

Happy reading!

Posted on by Chat About Books · 1 Comment

Celebrations and Confetti At Cedarwood Lodge by Rebecca Raisin 

Celebrations and Confetti At Cedarwood Lodge

by Rebecca Raisin 

Celebrations and Confetti is an excellent start to the Cedarwood Lodge series. I take my hat off to Clio for taking on such a massive challenge, although I can totally see the appeal. It sounds amazing! I love her commitment to the project, and I love her relationship with her friends, and colleagues.  She has a difficult relationship with her mother. A grieving mother who seems to carry a secret relating to Cedarwood. A secret she seems unwilling to share with Clio which strains their relationship further. It’s very intriguing and I hope we find out more about that.

Cedarwood is part of a small community and Clio is determined to bring it back to life with many celebrations and happy occasions. Will she leave herself any time for a bit of romance though!?

A very enjoyable read. I’ve already bought book two and started it. I’m finding myself quite invested in these characters.

** According to Amazon I purchased the Kindle edition of Celebrations and Confetti on 23rd November 2016 **

Clio Winters is finally fulfilling her childhood dream of renovating the gorgeous old Cedarwood Lodge in Evergreen. Turning it into the perfect destination for big celebrations, weddings and parties has brought her back home, but Cedarwood Lodge is in need of a lot of tender loving care.

Perhaps all the work will be the perfect distraction from the real reason she had to leave her glamorous New York life behind.

Will coming home be the best decision of her life… or her biggest regret?

Cedarwood Lodge is a delectable romance told in three parts – following Clio Winters journey back to her hometown of Evergreen. This is Part One.

Happy reading!

Posted on by Chat About Books · 5 Comments

Mother’s Boy by Patrick Gale 

Mother’s Boy

by Patrick Gale 

Mother’s Boy is another beautifully written novel by Patrick Gale. I was absolutely blown away by A Place Called Winter which was my first experience of this author. I have since added all his books to my TBR list.

Mother’s Boy is based on the true story of poet, Charles Causley. I hadn’t heard of Charles Causley previously (I have now added one of his poetry collections to my Wishlist), but I found his story fascinating. He is an interesting character. One I found quite difficult to warm to initially though, if I’m honest. He’s quite standoffish which seems like an odd thing to say, but I can understand why he is why he is. He lived in a time when he couldn’t be free to be who he really was, without fear of arrest.

After the untimely death of his father at such a young age, it is just him and his mother, Laura. Laura is a very warm character. Resilient, and hardworking, doing whatever she needs to do to provide for her son. I really liked Laura, and my heart went out to her. Charles is desperate to escape Launceston at his first opportunity, which I found sad for Laura, but understandable from the young Charles’ perspective. When another world war looks imminent, he signs up with the Navy as a coder. He’s an intelligent boy with much to offer. Away from his mother and his hometown he feels more able to explore who he really is. This isn’t without caution though. Charles grew on me more as his story progressed and I felt so sad for him in the end.

This is an inspiring character driven story full of love, loss, and sacrifice. A beautiful portrait of a mother and son relationship. A bond unbroken and one which endures.

** I bought the paperback edition of Mother’s Boy on Publication Day, 13th May 2022 **

Laura, a laundress, meets her young husband when they are both placed in service in Teignmouth in 1914. They have a baby, Charles, but his father returns home from the trenches a damaged man, already ill with the tuberculosis that will soon leave Laura a widow.

As a new war looms, Charles signs up for the navy as a coder. His escape from the tight, gossipy confines of Launceston to a more colourful life in action sees him blossom, as he experiences the possibility of death, and the excitement – even terror – of a love that is as clandestine as his work.

Happy reading!

Posted on by Chat About Books

Keep Her Secret by Mark Edwards @mredwards

Keep Her Secret 

by Mark Edwards

I thoroughly enjoyed Keep Her Secret, despite wanting to knock some sense into Matthew. I really liked him. I have no idea what he sees in Helena (apart from her looks). I really didn’t warm to her at all. When she confesses her secret to him, I was willing him to run away as fast and as far from her as he could. That wouldn’t make for a very exciting story though, would it!

Some people seem to do some crazy things for love, whilst those of us on the outside are looking in thinking what on earth are you thinking! Helena seems to hold some kind of spell over Matthew. So much so his common sense seems to evade him.

Helena made me nervous throughout the story. I couldn’t make my mind up if I believed anything she said. Who knows what trauma and abuse can do to a person though. She is certainly more than a little unhinged.

There are a few characters throughout this story who make some extremely questionable decisions too. There are many “you have got to be kidding me” moments. They make this a highly entertaining read in my opinion.

Fast paced, with short chapters, it kept me intrigued to the end. An unnerving conclusion kind of makes me want to know what becomes of Matthew and Helena. I hope he came to his senses, but I’m thinking probably not! Lol!

Mark Edwards is, and will remain, one of my favourite authors.

** This was our Bookstagram April Buddy Read. It was my choice on this occasion. Thank you to Lucie, Zoe, Leanne, Lee, and Lou for joining in with my month’s read **

After twenty years apart, Matthew and Helena have rekindled their college romance and are away in Iceland on their first holiday together. Swept up in the romance on a mountain hike, one moment they are taking the perfect photo, the next Helena is hanging from the cliff edge…

Terrified, Matthew almost misses Helena’s sudden and shocking confession—but what he hears chills him to the bone. And when Helena reveals the full truth Matthew is horrified, not only by what she’s done, but why she did it. Does he really know her at all?

His shock turns to horror when, back in England, they discover that someone not only overheard Helena’s confession but plans to blackmail her. Now Matthew must decide whether to go to the police or help Helena keep her secret—and as events spiral out of control, how far is Matthew willing to go to protect his ‘perfect’ girlfriend?

Treat yourself

Happy reading!

Posted on by Chat About Books · 4 Comments

Under the Lemon Tree by Emma Cowell @EmmaCowellBooks #ARC #NetGalley

Under the Lemon Tree

by Emma Cowell

Under the Lemon Tree is another gorgeous read by the very lovely Emma Cowell. I have loved every one of her books and, as always, this one is so beautifully written you can’t help but love the perfectly imperfect characters and fall in love with Greece all over again.

When we first meet Kat, she hasn’t long lost her twin brother, Nik. I can’t even begin to imagine that kind of devastating loss. My heart went out to her and her parents.

When she discovers she has inherited a house, on a Greek island, from an uncle she had never met she is naturally shocked and intrigued. As was I!

I loved following Kat on her journey to Agistri. It sounds like such a beautiful place. I could totally envisage her renovations of her new home and could quite happily live there myself.

I was not prepared for the secrets she discovers about her uncle, her brother, and her mother. Kat’s pain was almost palpable, and my heart ached for her at times throughout this story.

This is such a rollercoaster of an emotional read, set in a stunning location. A heart-warming tale of family dynamics, love, grief, friendship, personal growth, ambition, hope, achievement, romance, true love, and delicious Greek food. I was completely captivated!

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

Can one Greek summer heal the secrets of the past?

Could discovering a family secret encourage Kat to follow her heart?

Shattered by the sudden loss of her twin, Nik, Kat is lost in grief. The comfort of family feels both soothing and suffocating, but everything changes when she inherits a house on the breathtaking Greek island of Agistri from a mysterious uncle she’s never met.

Arriving on Agistri, Kat is mesmerized by its crystalline waters, lush pine forests, and the citrus-scented air. Among the white-washed houses and warm, welcoming locals, she begins to feel her heart heal. The island offers more than solace, sparking courage in Kat to face her loss — and maybe even embrace the spark of unexpected love…

But as she unearths her family’s buried past, Kat must also confront her own fears of belonging, forgiveness — and the possibility of rediscovering happiness in the shadow of heartbreak…

Treat yourself!

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
The House in the Olive Grove by Emma Cowell @emmalloydcowell
The Island Love Song by Emma Cowell @EmmaCowellBooks #NetGalley

Happy reading!

Posted on by Chat About Books

Collateral Damage: A Disappearing Inc. thriller by Mick Williams

Collateral Damage: A Disappearing Inc. thriller

by Mick Williams

Mick Williams has done it again! How he keeps coming up with such great story ideas I’ll never know. He’s one of the most versatile writers I know. Everything I have read of his has been brilliant so I knew this would be too.

This book begins with Jason, hiring Katy (along with her sister, and colleague, Marsha) to find his sister. I’m not sure I’d be as quick to hand over a chunk of money to a company I’d never heard of before, but he’s obviously desperate. When they start looking into this sister though it’s soon obvious that this isn’t a straightforward missing person’s case. Far from it! And Jason isn’t who he first appears to be.

There’s not much else I can say without spoiling it for you lovely people who haven’t had the pleasure of reading it yet, but I can tell you that this story has some kick@ss female characters!! Katy and Marsha are instantly likable. Ambra grew on me. Others not so much.

There are a few other interesting characters, maybe not so likeable, but interesting all the same and integral to the plot. A plot which is full of action, intrigue, fantastically choreographed fight scenes, and an explosive conclusion!

** Many thanks to Mick Williams for my advance review copy **

“Disappearing Inc. – do you want them lost or found?”

When private investigator Katy King agrees to help Jason Cooper locate his missing sister, the case seems simple—at first. But as dead ends pile up and Jason’s story unravels, Katy realizes she’s been pulled into a web of lies far darker than she imagined.

With no time to retreat, Katy finds herself hunted on two fronts: the head of an Albanian kill squad seeking revenge from a previous meeting, and a ruthless assassin determined to fulfill her deadly mission.

As these forces converge, Katy must unravel the truth behind Jason’s secrets while staying one step ahead of killers who won’t stop until she’s dead.

Treat yourself….

Happy reading!