REVIEW - This Changes Everything - but love changes not

This Changes Everything by Helen McGinn

Date read: 20th March 2021

My rating: 4*
Genre I reckon: Wistful family romance

Buy link: Amazon 

This author is better known to me as the cheerful wine expert who appears on TV's Saturday Kitchen. I was sort of hoping the wine choices would illustrate the story's progress more than it does tbh - but that was just me being geeky and unfair. 

This is a really lovely story. The main focus is on a couple in their sixties, which is refreshing.

Julia's two grown-up daughters follow her to Rome, fearful she's going to leap into another impromptu marriage. We are treated to a beautiful tour of the city as a result - sights, sounds and flavours. However, not everything is quite as palatable as the girls find out more than they had bargained for. 

No spoilers, but as the story unfolds from there, it gets more and more emotional. I'm not afraid to admit I cried. 

Not only do we get to 'see' Rome, but Cornwall gets a good viewing too, complete with crashing waves. 

It's a gentle saunter through a difficult topic. Very well written - hard to believe this is a debut novel. 

Just delightful!

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - Buried Magic - unleashes its power

Date read: 8th February 2021

My rating: 4.5*
Genre I reckon: Witchy Suspense

Buy link: Amazon 

Follow the author: TJ Green

As Imbolc drew near, I really fancied a witchy read and this has been on my TBR pile for a while. I was not disappointed! 

It's the first of a 6 book series - just warning in advance. 

The witchy bits are very well researched - hoorah! It does not seek to paint all witches as evil harridans - hoorah again! And includes male witches - and it's three cheers from me! 

Set in a British (Cornish) seaside village, a group of peace-loving witches live in an idyll. Well, until a lady hands over a whole load of information in her will, awakening...something. The hunt for their family grimoires begins. Black magick rears its ugly head as something or someone seeks them too. 

There's a big question mark over who is truly trustworthy.

Witch trials happened in the UK before they occurred in Salem, and this is covered in the family history here, casting shadows over the present.

A fab mix of characters in a story which doesn't shy away from very real danger. 

There is a lot of scene setting for the rest of the series here, but I felt it was necessary. One must build foundation upon which the rest of the tale may stand. 

I want to say it's written in a YA style but the characters are a bit older than that. 

There's the hint of romance (behind closed doors), allowing the main focus to be on the witchy mystery. 

A fun, compelling read. I've already downloaded book 2! 

Fun spooky fact: I was reading in bed at night, and the first time dark magick sweeps in, my essential oil diffuser switched off, plunging me into darkness! 😱 My heart raced a bit, I tell ta. 

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - Hell's Teeth - it's got bite

Date read: 24th January 2021

My rating: 4*
Genre I reckon: Paranormal Fantasy + Sciencey

Buy link: Amazon 

Follow the author: James Fahy

Phew, that was a wild ride!

I love how one's perceptions are subtly tested with this book. 

The vampires are not your trapped in a time warp type. They live in a dystopian future alongside humans in walled cities. The Pale are the major threat, not the "Genetic Others". 

The main character, Phoebe Harkness, is a scientist trying to correct the mistakes of the past. Extremely clever yet naive but full of snark - love her! 

She has much to learn, and it's all done the hard way as she's dragged from one horrific situation to another through no fault of her own. 

All the characters are well-developed and leap off the page to pull you into this gripping story. 

There's plenty of other-worldly beings involved - not always as they first appear to be. 

It's gruesome, scary and exciting! A unique take on vampires.

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - Death at the Frost Fair - brrrilliant

Date read: 16th January 2021

My rating: 5*
Genre I reckon: Historical Detective Short

Buy link: Amazon 

Follow the author: Karen Charlton

As someone with cockney heritage, I LOVE that this book is set around Blackfriars. It gets into the bowels of London, not the polished front of Regency romance. 

The Frost Fair was a real event and yes, an elephant really did cross the Thames on the ice in 1814! 😲

It's fabulous that this real event offers a colourful backdrop for this tale. 

And it's a great story. The characters are well-developed within the space of this short story. At no point did I feel any details were missing or skipped over. There's a realism here that I found refreshing.

Detective Lavender is a stern chap: Holmes-esque in his methodical manner.

Thoroughly intriguing and enjoyable! 

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - The Princess Trap - a right royal romp

Date read: 7th January 2021

My rating: 4*
Genre I reckon: Sexy Brit Romcom

Buy link: Amazon 

Follow the author: Talia Hibbert 

Hooray - a book with a British heroine of colour! And one of the supporting characters is Muslim. Another is mentioned as being bisexual. But they 'just are' - accepted without causing issues in the story.

Cherry is a stunning, voluptuous, confident, powerhouse of a young woman. 

OK, so she seems totally inappropriate for her HR job in a school...err...academy, but hey, it's fiction. 

Enter in damaged Prince Ruben. Of course, he's devastatingly attractive too. And from some little European island.

At the start, I thought his character was going to be into BDSM, but it's more power play. 

Still, the few sex scenes are hot af! 

I really liked how Cherry was there to rescue the prince; the reverse 'damsel in distress'. 

There was good character development and plenty of action. I cared about what happened to the characters and sped through this book. 

Talking of speed, some aspects did feel a bit rushed. A little more time to expand on some points would've set this book at a 5*.

What I really did appreciate was Cherry calling Ruben out on his errors. She was upset and he was made to know about it, but she asked why he'd acted that way to gain understanding. She showed empathy and compassion.

Trigger warning: domestic violence/abuse.

If you're after a fab, modern, sexy read, pick this book. Because who doesn't love a misunderstood guy trying to be better?

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - Crime Scenes, Cats And Killer Heels - me-ow!

Date read: 7th January 2021

My rating: 3.8*
Genre I reckon: Short Story - Crime with Kitties

Buy link: Amazon 

Follow the author: Violet Schofield aka willokiwrites 

This is a fun, very short story - I managed to devour it in a day. 

A crime scene cleaner (the kind that works for the law), Alice, manages to obtain the ability to speak to cats. Although, she may regret that - they're rather uppity creatures, and even more demanding once you hear what they wish to say. 

The characters are well-written and the plot whizzed along. I just wish there had been more of a build-up of tension around the murderer. But I'm still recommending as it was a fun read and I'd like to read more. 

Now Pusskin has questions!

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - Christmas At Snowdrop Cottage - snow galore

 

Date read: 6th January 2021

My rating: 4.5*
Genre I reckon: Christmas Romance

Buy link: Amazon 

Follow the author: Helen J Rolfe

Happy new year! My first book review of 2021. And I'm delighted to say it's a fab one. I started reading before Christmas, but festivities slowed me down even more than usual.

I'm blaming Beaufort Scales and Toot Hansell - that dragon totally led me by the snout to another quaint English village. And lo and behold, there's even baked goods. I'm very glad he did though. 

This is everything you want in a Christmas romance. Beautiful decorations, spices, the possibility of snow, stunning scenery and, of course, love is in the air. 

Belle heads to the village she spent so much time in as a little girl but hasn't visited for 20 years. Her purpose is to make her gran's cottage fit for sale. 

Families have drama, and hers has been torn apart. 

Everywhere she goes, memories start to return.

A lovely Christmassy read 💖

I'm sure more books by this author will appear on my TBR.

Love and light,

TL

REVIEW - A Toot Hansell Christmas Cracker - a cracking good read

Date read: 22nd December 2020

My rating: 5*
Genre I reckon: Christmas Dragony Adventures

Buy link: Amazon 

Follow the author: Kim Watt 

Back in August, I read Baking Bad - one of my few 5* reads of this year. 

I was overjoyed to see a Christmas book also set in Toot Hansell. 

This book is a collection of 12 short stories, each filled with pesky magickal beings, the WI and calamity. They all tie up together nicely. AND you get handy Christmassy recipes included - bonus! 

Well, what can I say? 

Utter chaos unfolds on the run-up to Christmas in Toot Hansell. 

The WI seek assistance from their dragon friends who are, as usual, a bit clueless themselves. 

Not only do you get Beaufort and Mortimer; the charming dragons with a baked goods obsession, but many other beings (not all good!). 

There is such a wonderful quaint English village charm in these books - just adorable. 

And the stories are all fun and sure to get you in the festive mood. 

I'm definitely never getting an elf-on-the-shelf; never did trust that smug little git ;-) 

There's danger, excitement, humour and plenty of cake!

I love this Toot Hansell world! There, I said it. 

Give it a read. 

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - The Spine of Winter - a chilling tale

Date read: 18th December 2020

My rating: 4.5*
Genre I reckon: Christmas Dystopian

Buy link: Amazon 

Follow the author: Angeline Trevena

Well, this is a harrowing story! We don't know what's happened, but devastation and snow are all around. All that Hannah has left is a slightly dodgy brother - turns out that his criminal knowledge can now be put to good use in this fractured world. 

If you think your Christmas is bad, read this - it's a fab reminder that things can always be worse! It makes you feel grateful for what we do have.

*SPOILER ALERT* 

It has a happy ending - Just thought you should know in these dark times that there's hope in this tale. Christmas is a time for miracles, after all.

Well-written with developed characters. 

Hannah is lost, dependant on her brother as they struggle to survive. And she discovers a strength she didn't realise was within her.

Loss and heartache leap off the pages. I was brought to tears by this short story. All the feels!

Definitely worth a read.

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - The Jarl's Challenge - grr, baby!

Date read: 16th December 2020

My rating: 4*
Genre I reckon: Winter Viking Romance

Buy link: Amazon 

Follow the author: Thyra Dane 

This a fab short story! 

Borghild is a shield maiden who carries resentment for her broken nose and the trouble it's caused her.

Eivind is the lad who caused the damaged and is now jarl. When he demands her hand in marriage, a holmgang is set. 

It was wonderful to read a historical romance about Vikings - one which was very well researched. 

The plot is fun and full of snow which sets the scene well. 

There are plenty of little details which make you feel like you're there (brr!). 

And the characters are well formed. 

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - Last Kiss Under The Mistletoe - full of passion

Date read: 9th December 2020

My rating: 4.5*
Genre I reckon: Christmas Romantic Suspense

Buy link: Amazon 

Follow the author: Melanie A Smith

Well, that was rather fun! I'm a complete foodie, so a chef hero is a winner from the get-go. Add in a pre-cog heroine and the book was in my basket instantly! But that's not all, the hero's life is in danger. Will CJ's foresight be a blessing or a curse? 

Packed with heat - the full-on, sizzling kind! Bit of Christmas magic. And a whole heap of action. 

The chemistry between these two is off the charts. And they're surrounded by intriguing characters. A well-written story with 'real' characters.

A very different kind of Christmas story, in all the best ways. 

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - A Grim Affair - the not-so-grim reaper

Date read: 9th November 2020

My rating: 4*
Genre I reckon: Suspenseful paranormal chicklit

Buy link: Amazon 

Follow the author: Rachel Stanley

Wow, the Grim Reaper, sorry, The Keeper of Souls is kinda hot! 

But aww, he's had a lonely existence thus far. His only companion has been the oversized, also incorporeal, wolf-like being, Seith. 

Blake aka The Keeper of Souls has never been seen by any humans who aren't at death's door. So what makes Emma so different?

Explore the answers in this wonderful romance. It's about their budding relationship as opposed to hot "mature content scenes".

Blake is almost 1,000 years old yet has never truly lived. His experiences of learning about corporeal life are endearing, and sometimes reminded me of Meet Joe Black (any thoughts of Brad Pitt are always welcome). 

I really enjoyed being part of Emma's world. She's a brilliant 'girl next door'. There's nothing extraordinary about her, which is lovely in this context. And her best friend is awesome. 

All the characters are well-developed and interesting. 

And the stalker adds an intriguing element of "who is it?".

There's kitties included (Emma is a vet's nurse) and has two adorable cats herself.

And the story is set in northern England which was another fab difference. 

This is certainly a unique take on the grim reaper, and one I very much enjoyed. A great debut!

I've often said Death is only doing his job! A much under-appreciated being, imho.

The ending wraps up nicely yet also invites a sequel, which I'll definitely be reading if/when it comes out. 

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - The Boy in the Burgundy Hood - spooky goings on

 

Date read: 22nd October 2020

My rating: 4*

Genre I reckon: Ghost Story

Buy link: Amazon 

Follow the author: Steve Griffin 

This is an original ghost story - a breath of fresh air. I love how the protagonist isn't scared of ghosts. And I really like that there's at least one modern ghost despite the beautiful, historical setting of a medieval manor house. 

As someone who enjoys snooping around National Trust properties, I adored being taken around Bramley Manor. The place has a lot of history - some of which has come back to bite it in the bum! 

Alice lands the job of her dreams - helping ready a property so it can be opened to the public. But what secrets do the ghosts hold? What are they trying to tell her? And how does an ancient Roman sect fit into all this? 

This is a gentle ghost story which also manages to build tension, especially near the end. 

Not scary but creepy and gripping.

A fab read! 

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - A Haunting at Havenwood - a sweet spectral romance

Date read: 28th September 2020

My rating: 4*

Genre I reckon: Sweet Regency Romance + a ghosty or two

Buy link: Amazon 

This is a very sweet Regency romance. Even the ghosts are kindly relatives.

Louisa is cast upon a great-aunt after the death of her father, and she finds herself going from riches to, well, not quite rags. But life is definitely different in tranquil Northumberland, compared to her lively Scarborough home. 

The plot moves along at a steady, sedate pace. And the characters are brought to life with wonderful writing. 

One of the ghosts wears a kilt and brings a lovely Scottish flair to this story which is set close to the border. Not scary at all.

Erasmus, the haunted great-grandson, has a stammer which he has been ridiculed for all his life. He has tried his best to overcome it, but there's still traces which has left him reluctant to socialise enough to pursue a wife. 

This is my first Sally Britton book and I suspect it won't be my last.

A thoroughly enjoyable Regency tale with a treasure hunt! 

* I received an ARC of this book but am voluntarily leaving a fair, honest review.

There is no sex, violence or swearing - a gently bred young lady

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - Baking Bad - The cosiest of cosies

Date read: 16th August 2020

My rating: 5*

Genre I reckon: Cosy Mystery 

Buy link: Amazon 

A cosy mystery with WI and dragons? One-click buy!! 

My hopes were high and I was delighted by what I read. 

More tea, vicar? He may regret that! 

When the quiet 'new' vicar meets his demise, all fingers point towards the Women's Institute (WI). Well, their chair, Alice, isn't about to take that lying down, thank you very much. 

Miriam and her cohorts, Beaufort and Mortimer, who just so happen to be Cloverly dragons, get roped in. Beaufort is eager to clear the name of his friends. The other two are more reluctant to interfere. 

Enter in a whole heap of whimsical British country life (set not far from Leeds in fictional Toot Hansell). 

Chaos rules throughout, but what else would you expect with boisterous dogs and dragons running amuck? 

There is plenty of cake and gallons of tea, of course. 

I just love this story. It's fun, well-written, farce, and just what this reader needed to lift her spirits. 

There are a few recipes in the back of the book too - bonus! 

If you like cosy mysteries, you'll love this. 

Look - Pusskin did a book pose!!!

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - Year One - One helluva journey!

Date read: 27th May 2020

My rating: 4*

Genre I reckon: Dystopian Fantasy

Buy link: Amazon

Follow the author: on Instagram  

Let me start this review with a warning; we are currently living in lockdown for COVID-19 as I write this. Now, if you're even a little bit nervous, wait until afterwards before reading this. 

The reason for this caution is because, obviously, this book deals with a deathly pandemic; it says so right in the book description. But sh*t gets real!! 

It's taken me about a month to read this book. It was a bit much for me right now. 

However, I loved the gritty realism. And then the magickal aspects. 

The opening is what every author wants to achieve - an intriguing hook. It dragged me in...

"When Ross MacLeod pulled the trigger and brought down the pheasant, he had no way of knowing he'd killed himself. And billions of others." 

Without darkness, there can be no light. And there's a whole lot of darkness just brought to Earth in this tale. 
With such a high death toll, who will survive and how? 

There were some parts which lingered too long, if I'm being honest. But that's just me. 
And there were an awful lot of characters. However, I managed to keep on top of it, perhaps with a little confusion here and there.
After the initial outbreak, there's focus on a couple of different groups of people. And it was during this that I lost focus. But this was probably at least partly owing to my slow reading pace. 

I loved the way the stories were interwoven. And sorry when we lost track of some people; I'm hoping to catch up with them though. 
There's some really interesting folk; some I love and some I love to hate - brilliant! 

By the time I got to the end, I was itching for book 2. And now there's more about the magick and less about The Doom (the plague/pandemic/virus), it might just be safe enough for me to get it 😉

Dystopian fans - you should definitely try this.
Those new to the genre - try it once you feel stable enough to do so.

Always in love and light,
TL