The Staffymum's Book Nook: 2023

Published: 13th October 2022

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

‘I foresee happiness for you, Nancy. I hear bells and I see snow, and your heart’s desire comes true’

A chance encounter brings Nancy Sunday to the streets of London, where she finds herself amongst a band of street urchins.

Her heart may have been broken by love but it’s big enough to help those less fortunate than herself, and Nancy takes these unloved orphans in – but when one of them is accused of a serious crime, the neighbourhood turns against her.

The colder the cruel grip of winter grows, the more mouths she finds herself having to feed. Can Nancy’s good heart and strength bring them all through?

*And don’t miss the sixth and final book in The Rockwood Chronicles – Dolly’s Dream – available to pre-order now!*

Book Five of The Rockwood Chronicles

MY THOUGHTS:

This fifth outing in Rockwood sees us travel to Gibraltar for a short time with none of them seeming to remain in one place. Only the first book remained in Devonshire (and maybe Cornwall as well) but the second and third took in France, the fourth was Barbados and this one Gibraltar! They sure do get around. But having said that, this one does have a touch of Lindsey Hutchinson to it which will enthrall those fans, I'm sure.

Once again, Nancy Greystone (formerly Sunday) takes centre stage and shines brilliantly. The story picks up quite literally where the last one left off...and I do mean "literally". Nancy is still at Dorrington Park with Freddie having just proposed and she having just faced off with Lady Dorrington. Next hurdle, Lord Dorrington. And he has some reservations to the nuptials but, after some convincing, agrees but with one stipulation that is non-negotiable. Nancy must take up residence in her ancestral home of Greystone Park and run it as its mistress successfully for one whole year. After which he will grant the couple his blessing.

Nancy is speechless. Although she is the legal owner of Greystone Park she had no intention of living there but if she wishes to marry Freddie then she must agree to Lord Dorrington's condition. She feels sure that Bertie, her legal guardian, will give them his blessing but they are both shocked to discover that he agreed with Lord Dorrington, as strange a request as it was. Nancy is angered that Freddie didn't stand up to either Bertie or his father and is convinced he mustn't really love her if he isn't prepared to fight for her.

So Nancy takes up residence at Greystone Park, much to the annoyance of her cousin Christina Cottingham who believes the estate to be her birthright despite being mistress of Cottingham Manor now. She isn't used to being mistress and is grateful for the help of her faithful servants who assist her in both etiquette and expectations. It isn't long before she gains their loyalty and trust and soon Greystone Park begins to shine again.

Then Aurelia Blanchard arrives unannounced from Cornwall and convinces Nancy to a trip to London but abandons her to make her own way to the station. Unfortunately, Nancy is kidnapped by a gang of street urchins who believe her to be a lady of means and therefore a way ti feed themselves. What they don't realise is that Nancy has no money on her which is why she was walking through the unknown streets of London alone. But instead of reporting them to the police, she takes them in, clothes them,, feeds them and pays for their passage back to Devonshire with her where she will become their guardian and hopefully give them the start in life she was lucky enough to be given by Rosalind Blanchard when she was a child. Of course, everyone thinks she has lost her mind and queries what she must be thinking taking in street urchins who will surely pilfer the silver when she isn't looking.

In all of this, Freddie is conspicuously absent. But then Lord Dorrington did request that they not see each other for the entire year Nancy made a success of becoming mistress of Greystone Park. However, the one time she did call on him for help, she was livid that he seemed to care more for business affairs than her! This annoyed me. Throughout all last book and the beginning of this one, Nancy stipulated that she would not marry Freddie unless both his parents gave their blessing as she did not want to come between his family. She also understood that he was heir to a vast estate and viscountcy and that he had responsibilities that would become his in the place of his father when the time came. Well, now he was stepping up to those responsibilities as his father took ill and she's complaining about it! Not only that, she complains he doesn't seem to have time for her anymore and cares more for the business and the estate than for her. If he really wanted to, he could make the time to see her. She's the one who told him to return to Dorrington Park! She's the one who told him to take up his place as heir to the estate and wait the year out for his father to give his blessing. And now she complains?

But that was my only complaint in all fairness. Well, except for how things ended up. It wasn't what I thought or was expecting or anything. The nuptials was just too weird in my opinion. But that aside, it was still one of the best books in the series with that touch of Lindsey Hutchinson when Nancy took a dozen street urchins under her wing and took them back to Greystone Park.

And so with one more book in this series left "Dolly's Dream" I look forward to reading Dolly's story as she grows into a woman from the child we've seen of her thus far.

Another delightful read.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Dilly Court grew up in North-east London and began her career in television, writing scripts for commercials. She is married with two grown-up children and four grandchildren, and now lives in Dorset on the beautiful Jurassic Coast with her husband. She is the author of eighteen novels and also writes under the name of Lily Baxter.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Harper Collins by following them on these social media accounts.

Friday 29 December 2023

REVIEW: Sunday's Child by Dilly Court

Sunday's Child (The Rockwood Chronicles #4) by Dilly Court

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas, Victorian era, Romance

Read: 29th December 2023

Published: 23rd June 2022

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Left on the steps of an orphanage when she was just days old, Nancy Sunday was brought up in hardship – until the kindly Rosalind Carey took her in. Now eighteen years old, Nancy is an adopted member of the Carey family. But she can’t help wondering who her parents really were…

When Nancy is sent away to finishing school, she finds herself in the midst of London society. There she meets Freddie Ashton – kind and warm-hearted, he might just be the man of Nancy’s dreams. But she knows his wealthy parents would never let him marry a penniless foundling.

And she has also caught the eye of another man – the charming and dangerous Gervase North, who has reasons of his own for discovering Nancy’s parentage.

Will Nancy ever find where she truly belongs?

Book Four of The Rockwood Chronicles

MY THOUGHTS:

The fourth installment of this exciting series set in the windswept rolling Devonshire hills, SUNDAY'S CHILD is where foundling Nancy Sunday shines. Admittedly, at the beginning of this tale I found myself rolling my eyes at having to endure Felicia de Marney once again as this time she took on a more prominent role in the first third of the book. And I was hoping that Nancy would escape her clutches and stand up to the woman who is nothing short of a self-obsessed bully when the mood takes her.

Nancy Sunday came into the series in the second book as a young child Rosalind Blanchard saved from a life of servitude at the cruel hands of the vicar's wife Tabitha Shaw. Rosie took pity on the poor little waif and took her under her wing, educated her and discovered that she was not as stupid as Mrs Shaw had proclaimed her to be. But rather she was very bright and eager to learn.

However, Nancy never quite knew where she fit in at Rockwood. Rosie insisted that she be treated as a member of the family while Hester frowned upon such airs and graces and believed she should be trained as and live with the servants. So it's not surprising in the opening chapter of this book that Rosie and Hester are arguing as to to value of Nancy being sent away to deportment school to become a lady. Rosie has always insisted she was a valued member of their family while Hester believed that it was above Nancy's station in life and as a foundling, she should live a life of servitude and be treated as such.

Rosie, of course, won out in the end as she usually does and Nancy was sent to London to the Academy where she was to become a lady. She was there four months before the school treated the ladies to a night at the opera at which Felicia de Marney was the star. Having reunited with young Nancy after her performance, Felicia decided that she would be a perfect candidate for her accompanist to play pianoforte to her singing and attending to whatever else she desires. She was not paid a wage but rather Felicia gave her food and lodgings and paid for a new wardrobe that was fitting for a woman in her company. And yet, Nancy was still considered a servant.

It was while she had been at the Academy that Nancy met Freddie Ashton, heir the Donnington title and estate in Somerset. He was the only child of Lord and Lady Donnington who had already matched him with an heiress that he had no intention of marrying and did not approve of the friendship forming between their son and a foundling, as it was now widely known. Felicia also did not approve of their friendship and discouraged her at every turn. It wasn't until they were staying at Donnington Park that Nancy had had enough of Felicia's treatment of her and stood her ground, packing her trunks and leaving Donnington for Rockwood, but not before Lady Donnington had her say and ordering her to leave at once.

Nancy finds herself once again at Rockwood somewhat rudderless and feeling as if she doesn't quite belong. She longs to know where she came from, about her mother and father, who they were and why she was left on the steps of the orphanage almost nineteen years before. But it's a chance meeting with one Gervase North who believes himself to be the rightful heir the Greystone title and estate that sets her on a path to discover the truth about her heritage. And nothing could prepare her, or anyone else, for what she would uncover.

With the exception of the horrid Felicia de Marney (I wish she would fall under a carriage), I thoroughly enjoyed this latest installment which was an improvement on the last one in which Patricia who, though she has now settled, is a little too much like her mother for my liking and I have never really warmed to her. I've always held a soft spot for Nancy and I was delighted that she had the opportunity to tell her story and to rightfully shine.

I can't wait to see what else Dilly has in store in the final two books "Snow Bride" (next) and "Dolly's Dream" (the final book).

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Harper Collins by following them on these social media accounts.

Thursday 28 December 2023

REVIEW: Runaway Widow by Dilly Court

Runaway Widow (The Rockwood Chronicles #3) by Dilly Court

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas, Victorian era, Romance

Read: 28th December 2023

Published: 17th February 2022

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

After the sudden death of her husband, Patricia Greystone is left with nothing, and at twenty-four, she finds herself a penniless widow. As the youngest child of a large family, she has always been headstrong and proud – so she’s determined not to return to her family cap in hand. Instead she strikes out on her own.

The dark streets of London are the perfect place to hide from the world, and Patricia makes her living singing on the streets. But the city is a dangerous place.

Without her family around her, will Patricia lose her way?

Book Three of The Rockwood Chronicles

MY THOUGHTS:

Dilly Court reunites us once again with the Careys and Blanchards of Rockwood Castle on the windswept Devonshire moors. However, this time the focus is on the youngest Carey child, who married towards the end of the previous book to a man old enough to be her father.

Patricia Carey is now Lady Greystone and married to one of the most prominent members of society. After marrying her childhood friends' father Sir Michael Greystone after setting her cap at him to secure her wealth and position, Patricia and Sir Michael relocated to London to be closer to the House of Commons in his position as a member of parliament. Their London house is as salubrious and illustrious as Patricia could want. Sir Michael gives her a generous dress allowance at her disposal and their lives are made up of a continual round of parties, soirees and dinners for which Patricia was born.

On the eve of yet another party which had to be cancelled due to the thick peasouper fog, Sir Michael returns home with the news that he has to go abroad for secret diplomatic business to which she is not privy. Patricia is at something of a loss and decides to resurrect her career on the stage. However, first she must undertake singing lessons with one Signora Valentina Galfondi to bring her up to speed for the role ahead of her. She takes herself back to Greystone Park where she endeavours to strengthen her voice under Valentina's guiding hand.

And then a messenger arrives with an official document. Sir Michael has been involved in a fatal train accident in France. But Patricia refuses to believe it, as does Sir Michael's youngest daughter still in residence, Sylvia. Upon her return to London, Patricia discovers that not all is as it seems. Sir Michael had neglected to update his will therefore leaving everything - Greystone Park and his debts - to his daughters Christina and Sylvia. Patricia is left with nothing. Barely even the clothes on her back.

And so she returns to Rockwood with her tail between her legs. But not for long. She hatches a ridiculous plan in which young Nancy decides to play a part and the pair hightail it back to London for the bright lights, fame and fortune. Unfortunately, brains were never part of Patricia's attributes and so her decision making was dubious to say the least. The speed with which she changed her mind was dizzying, each time declaring she means what she says. Only for her to change her mind just as swiftly again.

Her choices were stupidly naive and ridiculous, seeing her off to France and Italy in search of her mother in the hope that she will share her insights and wisdom. Seriously? Has she learnt nothing in the past two decades? Felicia de Mauney, nee Carey, thinks of no one but herself. And Patricia is so very like her fickle mother and just as flighty. So I was not surprised that she came unstuck on foreign shores...for she has no one to blame but herself. But her bad choices didn't end there. She returned to Greystone Park with the promise of contesting the will and taking up her rightful place as Lady Greystone...yet what became of that? She scarpered at the first threat and nothing came of it. So why introduce that plotline if it was not going to be followed through. All it did was confirm that Patricia was a fickle flighty piece who cannot make up her mind. Her to-ing and fro-ing was enough to make one's head spin and I was dizzy trying to keep up with her constant changes of mind.

I love Dilly's books and I love this series but I do not like Patricia. I didn't like her last book and I didn't much warm to her in this one. In fact, it only served to remind me how entitled she really believed she was. And her back and forth mind changes made me dizzy. I wasn't fond of the France side of the story and preferred it firmly back in Rockwood.

While I love this series and am thoroughly enjoying it, I didn't enjoy this one quite so much and wish I could give it 5 stars but Patricia Greystone isn't worth that rating. Besides which, the story wasn't as enjoyable as other tales by the author and those in this series. But I do look forward to the next one "Sunday's Child" when Nancy takes centre stage...

I would like to thank #DillyCourt, #Netgalley and #HarperCollins for an ARC of #WinterWedding in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Harper Collins by following them on these social media accounts.

Wednesday 27 December 2023

REVIEW: Winter Wedding by Dilly Court

Winter Wedding (The Rockwood Chronicles #2) by Dilly Court

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas, VIctorian era, Romance

Read: 26th December 2023

Published: 14th October 2023

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

As the first Christmas snowflakes fall, Rosalind finds herself pregnant and alone…

Christmas is coming to the village of Rockwood. But the happiest time of the year is marred by the news that Rosalind Blanchard’s husband, Piers, is close to death after a shipwreck at sea. The fate of her beloved family home, the crumbling Rockwood Castle, is once more in her hands. She must find the strength to keep her family together.

Pregnant, Rosalind comes face to face with the only man who ever made her heart truly sing: her husband’s brother, Alex. As the Christmas bells ring, news of Piers arrives that changes everything. And another chance of happiness might be the gift Rosalind has been waiting for…

Book Two of The Rockwood Chronicles

MY THOUGHTS:

We rejoin the Careys and the Blanchards at Rockwood once again in the second book of the series WINTER WEDDING. As usual, Dilly delights us with the tales of scandal, love and woe in equal mesaure with her trademark rags to riches interwoven into the story.

Rosalind Blanchard remains living at Rockwood Castle, the unofficial custodian of the estate in the absence of her older brother Bertie who inherited their grandfather's baronetcy on his death some months before. Rosie married Piers who continues to divide his time between Trevenor in Cornwall and Rockwood in Devon, as well as overseeing affairs of the china clay mine he inherited from his father. For the past several months Rosie has longed for her husband's return and yet when he is home, he isn't quite present.

Christmas is approaching and with it the upcoming nuptials of Rosie's younger sister Patricia to Piers younger brother Alex, who once held a torch for Rosie. Their wedding is to be Christmas Eve and everyone who is anyone in the county and beyond are to attend. But then a telegram arrives informing her that Alex has been injured in a shipwreck and remains in a hospital in France until he is able to travel. Patricia is beside herself that he could do this to her and humiliate her in such a way. And then their mother comes back with a solution to their problem...unfortunately, only Felicia can see it as such whilst everyone else finds her idea tactless and insensitive. But then Felicia Carey could only ever think of herself.

Rosie decides to leave for France immediately and arranges a passage across the channel with Hester by her side. They arrive to discover that Piers was also injured in an adjoining wreck and is currently unconscious in hospital. Rosie and Hester rent premises close to the hospital so that she may visit Alex and Piers every day. When Alex is able to leave the hospital, Rosie continues to visit Piers daily until his condition improves. She will not leave France until both men are able to travel back with them.

Of course, a return would only mean histrionics as far as Patricia is concerned, who appears to be a younger version of her mother - self-centred and self-obsessed to the core. She gives no thought as to what Alex has endured, only that he apparently jilted her and left her humiliated when it should have been the happiest day of her life. I personally think he escaped something of a sentence. But what of Piers?

While I quite liked Patsy in the first book, I loathed her in this one. She was petulant, selfish and completely spoilt. She thought of no one but herself, much like her mother, dare she outshine Felicia! Thankfully they did not take precedence and featured very little. Rosie is the focus as is her relationships with Piers, Alex and the two children she took under her wing - Nancy and Tommy.

As always, Dilly delights her fans with her distinctive style of rags to riches, romance, woe and a little bit of scandal. A definite read for fans of "Downton Abbey" and delightful Victorian sagas. I can't wait to continue the series with "Runaway Widow" to see what she has in store for us next...

I would like to thank #DillyCourt, #Netgalley and #HarperCollins for an ARC of #WinterWedding in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Harper Collins by following them on these social media accounts.

Tuesday 19 December 2023

REVIEW: Fortune's Daughter by Dilly Court

Fortune's Daughter (The Rockwood Chronicles #1) by Dilly Court

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas, Victorian, Rockwood Chronicles

Read: 19th December 2023

Published: 10th June 2021

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Rockwood was home and she would do anything she could to stop it being stolen from them.

Abandoned by their parents and left to fight for themselves, headstrong Rosalind Carey has no choice but to take charge of her younger brothers and sister in Devonshire’s grand Rockwood Castle. But their once much-loved home is crumbling like the family that lives within it. Living hand to mouth and desperate to provide for the estate that depends on them, the Carey family are one debt away from ruin. Until the day comes when the dashing Piers Blanchard appears on their doorstep from Cornwall, claiming he is Rosalind’s distant cousin and that Rockwood Castle is his.

Piers says he wants to help pay off the family’s debts. But how can Rosalind be sure he isn’t out to take what is his and leave them all homeless? Only a closely-guarded secret will convince Rosalind she can trust Piers to protect her family – and her fragile heart.

Book One of The Rockwood Chronicles

MY THOUGHTS:

The first in a series of six, this book opens with 8 year old Rosalind Carey traipsing down to the beach to watch the smugglers bring their loot ashore. But the preventative men are quick to capture some of the smugglers whilst Rosie finds herself injured and in the debt of an unknown boy who rescued her and took her back home to Rockwood Castle. There she gave him a bed for the night but was gone before she arose the following morning. Rosie never knew his name and she never saw him again.

Twelve years later, Rosalind Carey has been the lady of the house for most of her siblings' lives whilst their father travelled in search of rare plants and their mother sought fame on the stage. But she never forgot the night she saw smugglers in the cove below Rockwood Castle and the boy who saved her life. He has haunted her memories and her dreams since.

But life has been hard for the Careys as they struggle to keep the roof over their heads and have racked up debts which they cannot pay. Rosalind pawns her grandmama's gold locket to pay for a third class train fare to London along with her younger sister 16 year old Patricia. It is her hope that their mother will take pity on them and grant them enough money to survive until their father returns from his travels. But Felicia Carey is a selfish woman, believing her voice is her God-given gift that she must share with the world and her home is no longer Rockwood but the stage. She has no money to give her children and tells them so.

Whilst in London, Rosalind is introduced to Piers Blanchard who informs them that he has a claim to Rockwood going back centuries in which Rockwood was the rightful home to the Blanchards. Rosalind doesn't know what to think but she believes that there is far more to Piers than meets the eye. And she isn't sure that she trusts him. But he says he can prove his claim and yet it is not his intention to evict them from the only home they have known. Instead, he goes some way to make restitution for their outstanding debts and give Rosalind a monthly allowance to keep Rockwood and her siblings. And yet she still doesn't trust him. Surely he has some ulterior motive to his generosity.

When Rosalind and Patricia travel to Cornwall to Piers' own sprawling estate in which his younger sister and his grandmother live, she is shocked to discover that someone has laid claim to the estate and the clay mine which Piers runs lest a scandalous secret about the family be revealed. Piers has no choice but to ascquiese leaving Rosalind offering them a place at Rockwood until the mess is sorted out. But living with Piers' grandmother, who brings with her all her maids and servants that she couldn't possibly live without thus creating havoc below the stairs with the Carey's lifelong loyal housekeeper and cook, Hester.

Wow! Well, life certainly isn't dull at Rockwood as the Careys and the Blanchards rub along reluctantly with Piers' grandmother constantly reminding the Careys that they are there only at the generous behest of Piers insinuating that he can take away his consent at any time. With mysteries and scandalous secrets dating back to smugglers, FORTUNE'S DAUGHTER is a delightful tale that swept me away to the Devonshire coast that I can't wait to step into the next installment to see where life takes them and all at Rockwood Castle.

I thoroughly enjoyed this sweeping tale which I think is probably Dilly's best yet. Now...onto the second book...

I would like to thank #DillyCourt, #Netgalley and #HarperCollins for an ARC of #FortunesDaughter in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Harper Collins by following them on these social media accounts.

Sunday 17 December 2023

REVIEW: A Thimble for Christmas by Dilly Court

A Thimble for Christmas by Dilly Court

Genre: Historical fiction, Romance, Victorian era

Read: 17th December 2023

Published: 12th October 2023

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

She ran along the snow-covered cobbles, gripping her sewing box – fate in her hands…

Living hand to mouth ever since her mother’s tragic death, Amelia sells the last of her treasured possessions to avoid being cast out of her home onto London’s streets.

Her estranged grandfather unexpectedly bequeaths a small, struggling factory making mourning dresses and Amelia dares to dream… Drawing sketches by candlelight, she longs to sew elegant gowns from fine silks and beautiful ribbons for the rich.

As the cold winter wind begins to bite, Amelia’s future hangs by a thread – can she keep her hopes alive?

MY THOUGHTS:

I love historical fiction and since I was introduced to Dilly Court a couple of years ago I have thoroughly enjoyed her delightful rags to riches tales. I find her to be reminiscent of Catherine Cookson, a firm favourite of mine. It was a delight to rejoin Dilly once again as it has been some time since I have enjoyed her stories. I do believe their are characters from her Rockwood Chronicles which I have still yet to read...maybe I shall do so soon.

Amelia Sutton lives hand to mouth with her father Dr Harold Sutton, who tends to the poor and needy and often spares them the fee they can ill afford. This places Amelia is an awkward position when she asks for the rent money that is two months behind or a few pennies to put food on the table and coal to warm their small rooms. So it is against her father's wishes that she seeks her maternal grandfather's help and in light of the situation he places Amelia in the position of manager of a manufactory he owns which comes with a house, rent-free. Amelia can hardly believe her luck though her father is reluctant to take any handouts from the man who blamed him for his wife's, Amelia's mother, early death ten years before. He entrusts his man of business Caleb Marsh to her care, and he offers his services and assistance should she need it.

Upon moving into the house, Amelia scrubs it from top to bottom with the assistance of Mariah Simms, a woman she took under her wing to save her and her children from the brutality of the man they lived under. They make the house habitable and begin to let out rooms on the third floor to lodgers. Even her father has relented and welcomed the success she has made of the place and no longer is he tending to the poor and needy who cannot pay but he has been offered a position at the London Hospital where he trained and qualified many years before. Their first lodger is a fellow doctor who works with her father, Dr Todd Taylor. Then when her grandfather dies suddenly, his successor dispenses of Caleb Marsh's services and that of the butler who had worked for her grandfather for thirty years. Amelia offers them both a room each. She is also shocked to learn that her grandfather has left the manufactory and the attached house to her with the remaining estate to her mother's cousin Daniel Norris, who contests the will in the hope it will leave Amelia with nothing.

In the meantime, Amelia has dreamed of becoming a designer of fashions and whilst she managed the manufactory of mourning gowns, she decided to branch out into other gowns replicating the expensive Paris fashions but made to a budget. She is sure there are many women in London who would certainly pay for her services if only she could find the custom.

But when they are suddenly evicted, Amelia has no idea where they will go or what they will do. Until she is offered a gift...or is it really? Sometimes a wolf comes disguised in sheeps clothing but can Amelia spot the wolves for the sheep?

Another delightfully well written tale and one of my favourites of Dilly Court's I think, though it's hard pressed to find one that isn't beguiling. I think I found only one of hers okayish while everything else I have read by her has been thoroughly entertaining and wholly immersive. All the characters are well rounded even the ones who are unlikeable, of which there are a few.

Although her tales are all largely similar in style, they are each different. And yet they are all equally delightful. All set within the Victorian era and all are rags to riches in style and yet they each tell a different story. And yet I think this is the first book of Dilly's I have devoured in a day. Another compelling and thoroughly enjoyable read.

I would like to thank #DillyCourt, #Netgalley and #HarperCollins for an ARC of #AThimbleForChristmas in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Harper Collins by following them on these social media accounts.

REVIEW: After the Sleepover by Kerry Wilkinson

After the Sleepover (Sleepover #2) by Kerry Wilkinson

Genre: Psychological thriller, Mystery

Read: 9th December 2023

Published: 15th December 2023

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

“Gone. They’re gone.” Dylan’s wide-eyed mother bites her nails in desperation. “All three kids. They wanted to sleep outside. But I went to check this morning and… the tents are empty. They’re gone.”

Twenty-five years ago: teenage Leah had a sleepover with her three best friends. By morning, the other girls were missing. This small town has been searching for answers ever since. Now it’s happened again…

Three boys decide to camp in a field next to one of their homes. When dawn comes, dew glistens on their empty tents.

Overgrown farmland is searched. Three distraught families are desperate for news. A mother herself now, Leah’s heart breaks as terrible memories flood back…

Leah thought she knew what happened at the sleepover years ago but now another three children are missing. What if she was wrong? And how far will Leah have to go, to finally discover the truth, before it’s too late?

A completely addictive psychological thriller packed with twists, that will have you up all night racing through the pages. After the Sleepover can be enjoyed as a standalone read, and anyone who loves Shari Lapena, Lisa Jewell, or The Perfect Marriage won’t be able to put it down.

MY THOUGHTS:

Three teenagers disappeared...now it's happened again...

The follow-up to "The Night of the Sleepover", I actually liked this one more. I'm not sure why. Maybe because there was more of a sense of closure at the end? Throughout this book I was thinking "4 stars"...and then, the ending. Ramped it up 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Definitely worthy of it with that bombshell ending. While this is the second in the series, it can easily suffice as a standalone although you do get more backstory to the original mystery by reading the first book.

The story opens with a premiere screening of the documentary that was being made in the first book about the disappearance of the three teenage girls at a sleepover at which Leah attended when she was fifteen. She woke up the following morning and her friends' sleeping bags were empty; they had gone. And their disappearance has remained a mystery for twenty five years. The documentary didn't really rake up any new information, just rehashed old theories, introduced new ones and ended as ambiguously as it only could without the mystery ever being solved.

The following morning after the screening, Leah awakes to a couple of police officers on her doorstep. Three teenage boys have disappeared overnight and the mother of one of the boys was asking for her. Did Leah know her? She wasn't sure but apparently they were at school together. But school had such a vague recollection of memories mostly due to the fact three of her friends had vanished overnight and she was expected to carry on as normal despite no one knowing what had happened to them. Now it seems Jennifer Bailey wanted her at her side as the only other person to know what it feels like to be "left behind".

The mystery deepens as police continue to search Jennifer's farm. How can three teenagers disappear overnight? For it to happen in a small town not once but twice in its lifetime? It seems the town's WhatsApp group is full of theories and answers, all of them pointing fingers at someone or something. Questions are raised and allegations made. But does anyone really know what's happened?

As much as she doesn't want to be, Leah become embroiled in this latest mystery as Jennifer rants and figuratively cries on her shoulder. Suspicion falls on their weird neighbour who has threatened violence if her son Dylan, one of the missing boys, continues to trespass on his land. And when asked about Dylan's father, she reveals a not so nice picture of the absentee parent. But through it all, Leah listens and takes note. Before the end of the book she will have the mystery figured out...but at what cost?

AFTER THE SLEEPOVER is a slow burning mystery like the first one, it's startling difference being that jawdropping ending which I felt was a perfect touch. There are plenty of red herrings throughout to keep you guessing as to where this story will go. Will you figure it out as Leah does? Or will Kerry have you hoodwinked?

While this book does refer to Leah knowing what happened to her missing friends, that mystery is reserved for the first book and is not actually revealed in this one. And while you can read this one as a standalone, I don't think you will pick up on a lot of the nuances peppered throughout unless you have read the first one also.

None of the characters are really likeable, even Leah is pretty hard to connect with. I found her relationship with Ben a bit of a non-starter as it didn't really go anywhere in the story so I kind of felt what was the point?

As always, Kerry's trademark wit can be found throughout which had me chuckling at times. But the piece-de-resistance of this entire tale was the final pages. I cannot say enough how perfect that ending was.

I would like to thank #KerryWilkinson, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #AfterTheSleepover in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Kerry Wilkinson has had No.1 crime bestsellers in the UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa and Singapore. He has also written two top-20 thrillers in the United States. His book, Ten Birthdays, won the RNA award for Young Adult Novel of the Year in 2018 and Close To You won the International Thriller Award for best ebook in 2020.

As well as his million-selling Jessica Daniel series, Kerry has written the Silver Blackthorn trilogy - a fantasy-adventure serial for young adults - a second crime series featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter, plus numerous standalone novels. He has been published around the world in more than a dozen languages.

Originally from the county of Somerset, Kerry spent way too long living in the north of England, picking up words like 'barm' and 'ginnel'.

When he's short of ideas, he rides his bike, hikes up something, or bakes cakes. When he's not, he writes it all down.

Social Media links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

Saturday 16 December 2023

REVIEW: My Best Friend's Secret by Karen Clarke

My Best Friend's Secret by Karen Clarke

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 16th December 2023

Published: 28th September 2023

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

She knows her. But can she trust her?

When Rose’s old friend Elise suddenly arrives on her doorstep having just escaped a controlling marriage, she offers her a place to stay.

But Elise wants more than a safe refuge, she wants Rose to help her get her daughter back, so that she can truly start afresh with five-year-old Daisy safely in her arms. Every little girl needs her mother, after all.

Ready to insert herself into Elise’s old home, Rose gets a job as a teacher, home-schooling Daisy.

But when Rose is asked to take the little girl and bring her to Elise, she gets cold feet… Elise’s behaviour is becoming increasingly erratic, and Daisy’s father is far from the monster described…

Will Rose take Daisy and return her to her mother, or is the real danger closer to home?

Who should she trust?

An utterly gripping novel of suspense and drama from the bestselling author of My Sister’s Child. Fans of Claire Amarti and Nicole Trope will love My Best Friend’s Secret!

MY THOUGHTS:

I know her...but can I trust her...?

Rose and Elise haven't seen each other in years. Not after something happened to drive them apart. But now Elise is back, having just arrived on Rose's doorstep after escaping her marriage to a controlling man and his equally controlling family, and Rose offers her a place to stay. But Elise wants more than a roof over her head. She wants Rose to help her get her daughter back and away from her controlling husband...after all, Rose owes her.

So Rose approaches Isaac outside the school one afternoon and before long, she's been offered the job of home schooling five year old Daisy. Her mission is simple. Return Daisy to her mother. While she sympathises with Elise's distressing story, evoking some equally emotional memories of her own past, the more Rose spends at Isaac's house with Daisy the more she begins to question the validity of Elise's story. Added to that, Elise's behaviour is becoming increasingly erratic. Is she really being a honest as she made out? Or is there more to the story than Elise is saying?

This tale is filled with secrets, lies and a load of deceit. Who is really lying? The deception is next level. Nothing and no one is as innocent as they seem and everyone is suspect. And the holes in Elise's tale that Rose began to unravel create even more misconception. A twisty narrative, this made for uncomfortable reading much of the time. I didn't know who to trust. Everyone had their own version of Daisy's mother - but which of them is the truth? And yet in the middle of this nightmare is Daisy who is blissfully (and thankfully) unaware of all these events happening around her.

With so many layers to this tale, the author keeps readers guessing right up to the end as she peels back each layer to reveal a little more. This is my first read by Clarke on her own, having read a few she has penned alongside Amanda Brittany. A well-plotted psychological thriller.

I would like to thank #KarenClarke, #Netgalley and #HQDigital for an ARC of #MyBestFriendsSecret in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHORS:

Karen is a multi-published author of romantic comedies and psychological suspense novels, as well as co-writing thrillers with Amanda Brittany.

She lives in Buckinghamshire with her husband and three grown-up children and when she’s not writing, she reads (a lot), loves walking and taking pictures — the birds in her garden are probably the most photographed in the country.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: Some Day My Prince Will Come by Natalie Kleinman

Some Day My Prince Will Come by Natalie Kleinman

Genre: Historical fiction, Regency Romance

Read: 15th December 2023