Category: Recent Reads

Recent Reads: A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor (The Chronicles of St Mary’s book 2)

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

A Symphony of Echoes is the second book in the series, and Max went through a lot in the first book! 

There is more adventure in this book, starting with a visit to see Jack the Ripper, Thomas a Becket in Canterbury Cathedral, and the future!

It’s fast paced, entertaining and involves a lot of fun and squabbles!

I found the author’s writing to be really evocative of the time including smells, the different types of litter you have in the street in different times.

A Symphony of Echoes was published on 22nd October 2013, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can read my review of the first book in this series here.

You can follow Jodi Taylor on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and her website.

Recent Reads: Shady Hollow by Juneau Black

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

Shady Hollow by Juneau Black is a murder mystery with anthropomorphic woodland creatures.

Shady Hollow is the small town where  a grumpy toad is found dead, and newcomer and local reporter, Vera Vixen starts investigating.

It’s a cosy mystery but with woodland creatures, and was an enjoyable read.

Shady Hollow was published on 3rd February 2022, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow Juneau Black on Twitter and their website.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Hodder & Stoughton.

Recent Reads: This Charming Man by C. K. McDonnell (The Stranger Times book 2)

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

This Charming Man is the second book in the Stranger Times series.  Everyone knows that vampires don’t exist, except for the vampires that are popping up in Manchester!

On top of that, there’s someone trying to kidnap one of the Stranger Times staff, the Assistant Editor, Hannah has returned after a messy divorce, and the editor, Vincent, is as unpleasant as ever.

This is an urban fantasy, all set in a newspaper that prints stories that seem to be ridiculous, but at least some of them are true!

I’ve enjoyed this series, and seeing urban fantasy from a slightly different point of view.  

This Charming Man was published on 17th February 2022, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Random House, Transworld Publishers.

Recent Reads: Cast Iron Alibi by Victoria Hamilton

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟

Cast Iron Alibi by Victoria Hamilton is book 9 in the series.  I haven’t read any of the previous books, but I did enjoy the book, and didn’t find that I missed out on too much.

Jaymie has invited her female friends from her college days, and whilst they always take a bit of time to get used to each other’s groove, this time is extra hard with someone new being brought along.

This is a murder mystery with a lot of female friendship dynamics.  It’s a cosy mystery, set in a small town, where the residents all know each other, and was a fun read.

Cast Iron Alibi was published on 5th November 2019, and is available from Amazon and Waterstones (as an audio book).

You can follow Victoria Hamilton on Facebook, Twitter and her website.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Beyond the Page Publishing.

Recent Reads: The Wrong Suitcase by Laura Jane Williams

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Wrong Suitcase by Laura Jane Williams is set at a destination wedding, with Lizzie and Sam ending up with each other’s suitcases, and the hilarity that ensues.

This is a lovely novella, with beautiful descriptions of Italy, and a big dollop of romance.  I listened to the audiobook, and so enjoyed listening to Laura Jane Williams reading her book.  If you’re looking for something to transport you, then this is great!

The Wrong Suitcase was published on 12th February 2022, and is available from Amazon as an e-book and as an audiobook, read by the author.

You can follow Laura Jane Williams on Twitter, Instagram and her website.

You can read my reviews for Laura Jane Williams books:

Our Stop

The Love Square

The Lucky Escape

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to HarperCollins UK.

Recent Reads: Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came by M. C Beaton (Agatha Raisin book 12)

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came has Agatha with a bit of a broken heart after James.  The fact that he ran off and said he was being a monk, and asked for a divorce was a lot.  But now he has sold his cottage, you know what this means…opportunity for romance on Agatha’s doorstep!

But this is Agatha we’re talking about!  There has been a flood, and Agatha sees a bride in wedding dress, and with a bouquet, go by under a bridge, and Agatha knows her from a recent beauty appointment!

Charles got married on his way back from France in the previous book! Agatha goes on holiday to a remote island in the South Pacific – running away from her problems, or towards herself?

All in all, a good book in the series!

Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came was published on 12th July 2002 and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

My review of the previous book in the Agatha Raisin series are below:

Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (book 1)

Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet (book 2)

Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener (book 3)

Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley (book 4)

Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage (book 5)

Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist (book 6)

Agatha Raisin and the Wellspring of Death (book 7)

Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham (book 8)

Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden (book 9)

Agatha Raisin and the fairies of Fryfam (book 10)

Agatha Raisin and the Love from Hell (book 11)

Recent Reads: Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor (The Chronicles Of St Mary’s book 1)

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor (The Chronicles Of St Mary’s book 1) is the first book in the series, and I’ve been really enjoying it!  It’s about a group of people who investigate major historical events in a contemporary time – just don’t call it time travel!

Madeline Maxwell joins St Mary’s, and the fun begins from there!

This jump from 11th century London, World War I, Cretaceous period and the destruction of the Great Library at Alexandria!  You get to find out just how much chaos historians really do bring about!

I thought this was a really good start to a series, with lots of characters, historical settings that felt real, and a storyline I enjoyed!

Just One Damned Thing After Another was published on 1st June 2013 and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow Jodi Taylor on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and her website.

Recent Reads: Midwinter Mysteries

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟

Midwinter Mysteries by eleven authors is a selection of short stories, each involving a mystery of some kind.

Some were good, some weren’t as good, but it was an interesting collection to find new mystery authors and series.

Midwinter Mysteries was published on 31st October 2019 and is available from Amazon and Waterstones.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Sapere Books.

Recent Reads: The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott is set in 1956, when Boris Pasternak is writing Doctor Zhivago, and there’s controversy surrounding it.  Soviet Russia could ban it, but the USA is interested in getting it’s hands on it.

We meet two women – Sally, an experienced agent for the CIA, and Irina, a new hire for the typing section, and how they are involved in this book.

There are spies, international travel, horrible tactics by those in power, and love.  I enjoyed the story, and was interested in the setting and the events!

The Secrets We Kept was published on 5th September 2019, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow Lara Prescott on Twitter and her website.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Penguin Random House.

Recent Reads: A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier

Posted on by Pam

My review:

A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier is set in 1932 in Winchester.  Violet lost a brother and her fiancé in the Great War (World War I), and like so many women at the time, is single due to the huge amount of young men who died in the war.

She moves to Winchester, escaping her mother’s home, and joins a group of women who embroider the cushions and kneelers in the cathedral.

Violet finding her feet, the group of women and World War II on the horizon is all part of this story, which I really enjoyed.  The history of Winchester is part of the story, and was very interesting.

A Single Thread was published on 5th September 2019 and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow Tracy Chevalier on Twitter and her website.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to HarperCollins.