Friday, May 23, 2025

BLOG TOUR - Murder at the English Manor



glamorous engagement celebration in an English country manor house… and a local maid dead. Somebody call Kitty Underhay!

At home in Devon, Kitty is attending a ball at the very grand Markham Hall. With celebrations in full swing and everyone kitted out in their glad rags, Kitty and Matt enjoy the champagne. But the next morning, the party feels well and truly over when Kitty stumbles across a body while out walking her dog, Bertie. The maid, Agnes, is dead, and everyone at Markham Hall is a suspect…

Kitty and Matt set about piecing together the puzzle as the streamers are swept away and empty glasses gathered up. But who could the murderer be? The other maids seem shifty; Lord and Lady Faversham, the hosts, are not without motive, and even Kitty’s grandmother is keeping her cards close to her chest this time…

But then a safe filled with precious jewels has its lock broken, and another body is found tangled up in the weeds of the lake in the grounds. Kitty wonders if the poor guest knew their dancing days were almost over when they were merrily sipping punch the night before? And what secrets are the other guests hiding…

Can Kitty save the next victim at the eleventh hour? Or will this really be a weekend to die for?

Fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey or Verity Bright will adore this totally charming murder mystery. The perfect treat for cozy crime fans!

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Title:   Murder at the English Manor
Author:  Helena Dixon
Series:  Miss Underhay #20
Publisher:  Bookouture 
Genre:   Cozy Mystery
Format:  Kindle ARC 
No. of Pages:  313
Date of Publication:   May 23, 2025
My Rating:  5 Stars 

MY THOUGHTS:

Kitty Underhay and her husband Matt are asked by their friend Mrs. Craven to attend a lavish ball with the intent of discovering what happened to one of the maids. They will definitely be using their skills as private investigators. 

The ball was to be a busy event, and Kitty and Matt had planned on watching over the entire event, as that was their original purpose for attending. What started off as a favor to their friend, Mrs. Craven, ends up becoming much more.

Sadly, Agnes just didn't go missing. She was found dead, and it definitely was a case of murder. With the staff at the residence and all of the guests, Kitty and Matt don’t have a shortage of suspects, as just about anyone could have been responsible for Agnes’ murder.

Mrs. Craven made a fine companion to Kitty and Matt on this case, and was actually quite entertaining. Their experience working together solving Agnes’ murder will no doubt be of benefit to them. Will the trio discover what happened? Also, will Matt’s attention on yet another case prevent him from working to find answers with Kitty and Mrs. Craven?

Murder at the English Manor celebrates its twentieth book in the Miss Underhay series by Helena Dixon. As always, she has written an entertaining story and has pleasantly managed to keep this series fresh and enjoyable. I look forward to the next book in this series.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Helena Dixon is the author of the best-selling Miss Underhay murder mystery series and lives in Devon. Married to the same man for over thirty-five years she has three daughters, a cactus called Spike, and a crazy cockapoo. She is allergic to adhesives, apples, tinsel and housework. She was winner of The Romance Prize in 2007 and Love Story of the Year 2010 as Nell Dixon.


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Tuesday, May 20, 2025

BLOG TOUR - The Woman in Our Marriage


DESCRIPTION:

He says she’s here to help. But does she want me gone?

After my beautiful daughter Annabelle died in a tragic accident, I thought I would never recover. With my world in pieces, my husband Matthew did what he could to support me and our son, Noah. He hired a young woman, Reka, to help us at home, to be the mother for Noah that I couldn’t be. She cares for him like he’s her own.

But recently, I’ve seen her comforting someone else. My husband. They think I don’t see what they’re doing. But I do.

At first it was stolen glances and whispered conversations. Soon I understand what is really happening. I’m being replaced.

I’ll do anything to keep my son with me. But as the tensions between Matthew and Reka rise, I realise that I’m caught in a deadly trap. And one of us won’t make it out alive.

A totally addictive, page-turning psychological thriller that will keep you totally hooked. Perfect for fans of The Wife Between UsThe Girl on the Train and anything by Shari Lapena.


BUY LINK:


Title:   The Woman in Our Marriage
Author:  Victoria Jenkins
Publisher:  Bookouture
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:  299
Date of Publication:   May 16, 2025
My Rating:   5 Stars

MY THOUGHTS: 


Suzanna’s fear of losing her son Noah is understandable, especially after the loss of her infant daughter Annabelle. To cope with the grief, her husband Matthew has hired a nanny named Reka to help with Noah. Reka moves into their home.


However, there’s a disconnect between Suzanna and Noah, and she soon starts to feel threatened by the possible relationship between Matthew and Reka. Is her suspicion valid, or is it just her imagination?


When the unthinkable happens, Suzanna’s world crumbles. The repercussions of her actions could cost her everything, but the story takes a shocking twist that nearly broke my heart.


Despite the title hinting at a certain theme, this book delves deeply into Suzanna’s emotional struggles. She grapples with the loss of Annabelle, post-partum depression, and ongoing emotional issues. Victoria Jenkins’s writing is exceptional, and I eagerly anticipate her next book.


Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Victoria Jenkins lives with her husband and daughters in South Wales, where her bestselling series of crime novels featuring Detectives King and Lane is based. The first in the series, The Girls in the Water is a top 5 US kindle bestseller. She has an MA in Creative and Media Writing from the University of Wales, Swansea.

Monday, May 19, 2025

BLOG TOUR - Death at the Highland Loch



DESCRIPTION:

Move over, Inspector! Lady Poppy Proudfoot is here to solve her very first case.

Scotland, 1924: When Lady Poppy Proudfoot travels to the Highlands for a midsummer party, the last thing she and her fellow guests expect is for a body to wash up beside the loch.

Despite protests that it could have been an accident, Poppy is convinced it’s murder and decides to dust off her law degree and hunt for clues. But when the police arrive, the grumpy Inspector MacKenzie dismisses her evidence, insisting a crime scene is no place for a Lady. The nerve!

With the help of her trusted Labrador, Major, Poppy begins to unpick the case. But she soon has two mysteries to solve, as her host Lady Constance Balfour claims a diamond and emerald bracelet has been stolen. Could the two cases be linked? Was it Freddy the footman, a favourite of her ladyship? Or American actress Miss Cornett, with a keen eye for jewels? Or with such a dazzling guestlist, was someone from the local village tempted into the grounds by the party?

When a woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to Poppy is attacked, she realizes that someone wants her off the case.Someone connected to Balfour House is a murderer and a thief, but who? And can Poppy solve the mystery before she, too, washes up beside the loch?

A warm, unputdownable page-turning historical whodunnit, perfect for fans of Helena Dixon, Verity Bright, T.E. Kinsey and Catherine Coles.

BUY LINK:

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you'll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo 

Title:   Death at the Highland Loch
Author:  Lydia Travers
Series:  Lady Poppy Proudfoot #1
Publisher:  Bookouture    
Genre:   Cozy Mystery
Format Kindle ARC 
No. of Pages: 350
Date of Publication:  May 19, 2025
My Rating:  4 Stars

MY THOUGHTS:

Excitement coursed through Lady Poppy Proudfoot’s veins as she set out on a trip to the Highlands in 1920s Scotland. A titled young lady with a law degree, Poppy was eager to enjoy herself at a party. However, her plans took an unexpected turn when a body was discovered at a loch.

Shocked by the discovery, Poppy is determined to uncover the truth. From the outset, Poppy was certain that the woman’s death was no accident. Despite the inspector on the case’s skepticism, Poppy decided to take matters into her own hands and solve the case.

But Poppy’s investigation didn’t end there. The party’s host’s valuable diamond bracelet had also gone missing, adding another layer of intrigue to the mystery. Poppy was determined to find both the bracelet and to discover what happened to the young woman, and wonders if both circumstances were somehow connected.

Ever since hearing about Maud McIntyre’s success as an investigator, Poppy had been inspired. Could she do the same? Determined to prove herself, Poppy took matters into her own hands. Before long, when a young woman was attacked, and she bore a striking resemblance to Poppy, so Poppy immediately wonders if she herself might have been the target. Now she just knew she was on the right track to solving these cases.

This cozy mystery series begins with a delightful and engaging read. Having enjoyed Lydia Travers’ previous cozy mystery series, I was delighted to see that this book retained the same flair. Poppy’s spunky personality and inquisitive nature were a joy to witness as she embarked on her investigative adventures. I eagerly anticipate her next escapade and look forward to sitting back and enjoying her pursuits.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lydia Travers was born in London.  She moved progressively north until settling with her husband in a village on the edge of the Scottish Highlands. She has raised children, bred dogs and kept chickens; and for as long as she can remember has written for pleasure. A former legal academic and practitioner with a PhD in criminology, she now runs self-catering holiday accommodation, sings in a local choir and is walked daily by the family dog.

Lydia also writes as Linda Tyler and her first novel under that name, Revenge of the Spanish Princess, won a 2018 Romance Writers of America competition for the beginning of an historical romance. Her second novel The Laird's Secret was Commended in the 2021 Scottish Association of Writers' Pitlochry Quaich competition for the beginning of a romantic novel. Mischief in Midlothian won the 2022 Scottish Association of Writers' Constable Silver Stag trophy. She has had a number of short stories published in magazines, journals and anthologies in the UK, the USA and Australia.


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Saturday, May 17, 2025

BLOG TOUR - A Most Parisian Murder



DESCRIPTION:

Feathers, diamonds, showgirls, oh la la… Paris is everything Opal Laplume could dream of. But she wasn’t expecting to be cast as the lead detective in a murder case…

Paris, 1930. The Honourable Opal Laplume has just started working as a seamstress in the most glamorous cabaret in Paris. The stage is set for a spectacular opening night, but tragedy strikes when the star of the show, Valentine Beaumanoir falls from her hotel balcony.

The police believe it’s an accident, but Opal isn’t convinced. Witnesses heard Valentine shout for help before she fell. But if she was pushed, how could the culprit have escaped when her room was locked from the inside? And who left a perfect white rose on her bedside table?

When a deadly note to another dancer is found, Opal ditches her threads and thimbles to take charge of the case. Stepping backstage, she finds everyone had a reason to want Valentine dead. The chorus girls were jealous of Valentine’s spot in the limelight. But did one of them want the lead role that badly? Before she fell, Valentine called out the name of her beau, costumier Christophe. Could the show-stopping murder have been a crime of passion?

But just as Opal thinks she’s on track to solve the mystery, the theatre is rocked by a murder on stage, where once again the killer vanishes into thin air. Opal soon realises a bigger plot is unfolding. Can she keep her composure and catch the cabaret killer? Or will it be her final curtain call?


Author Millicent Binks 
Title:  A Most Parisian Murder 
Series:   An Oral Laplume Mystery Book 1
Publisher:  Bookouture 
Genre:  Cozy Mystery 
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   284
Date of Publication:   May 13, 2025
My Rating:   4 Stars

MY THOUGHTS:
The Honourable Opal Laplume, renowned for her exquisite hat designs at her mother’s millinery shop in London, finds herself unexpectedly thrust into a new adventure. Her mother has suddenly arranged for Opal to journey to Paris, where she is to create elegant headpieces for a cabaret show featuring her cousin Clementine. Opal is quite eager for the opportunity to spend time with her glamorous cousin.

However, tragedy strikes even before Opal’s arrival in Paris. One of the show’s dancers, Valentine, tragically falls to her death from a hotel balcony. Another dancer, Zsa Zsa, claims to have heard a disturbance in Valentine’s room that night and insists that Valentine was not alone before her fatal fall.

As Opal arrives in Paris, she is confronted with these unsettling circumstances. And, as things soon prove, Valentine’s death is not the only strange occurrence. An exceptionally valuable necklace goes missing, and then someone disappears. The situation escalates when Opal’s dear cousin Clementine also meets with a tragic end. Detective Inspector Prosper Delacroix is on the scene to investigate these events, but Opal feels that he is clueless when it comes to uncovering the truth. Determined to find answers, Opal takes matters into her own hands and begins her journey as an amateur sleuth.

Armed with only a small clue—a napkin with an enigmatic inscription—and concerns about a questionable liquid popular among the dancers, Opal sets out to unravel the mystery. Were the deaths unfortunate accidents, and are the other events mere coincidences? Opal firmly believes otherwise and resolutely proves determined to find justice for her cousin and others involved.

This cozy mystery story offers a refreshing and elegant setting, complete with a captivating cabaret show and beautifully designed costumes. Opal’s talented and detailed sketches add to the story’s charm, as does her beloved dog Napoleon, making it a delightful read. This charming tale sets the stage for an exciting new series, leaving readers eager to discover Opal’s next adventure.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Millicent is a writer, former costume designer and burlesque performer from Suffolk. She now resides in North London with her husband and two cats, Queenie and Tarquin.
She has a BA (Hons) at Wimbledon College of Art in Costume Interpretation. Her writing credits include a column in the The London Evening Standard about her life as a burlesque starlet.  She wrote the cover story “Alter Shego's”  for The Sunday Times Magazine, in which she disguised herself as different women, took self-portraits, went out, introduced herself to random gentlemen and documented their reactions. This was optioned for TV by NBCUniversal.
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Saturday, May 10, 2025

Review - The Cornish Cottage by the Sea

Title:   The Cornish Cottage by the Sea 
Author:  Kim Nash
Publisher:  Boldwood Books
Genre:   Women’s Fiction; Romance
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   309
Date of Publication:  May 10, 2025
My Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

A gorgeous, uplifting, romantic read from the author of the Cornish Cove series, Kim Nash A new start by the sea…

For Jo Jenkins, life has always been about putting others first. But with her children grown and her ex-husband as rotten as ever, she knows it’s time to put herself at the heart of the story. So, when she inherits a beautiful beachside cottage in Cornwall, she grabs the chance to start over.

The crumbling old cottage needs a little love, but so does Jo. And with the help of her new friends – a kind-hearted jeweller, a no-nonsense businesswoman, and a local Jack of all trades with a past of his own – Jo begins to rebuild more than just bricks and mortar.

But tucked away inside the cottage is a secret that could change everything. As the waves roll in and the sea air clears her mind, Jo must decide if she’s ready to let go of the past. Will she finally learn to embrace the life she truly deserves?

Escape to the windswept shores of Cornwall in this heartwarming story of love, friendship, and fresh starts. Perfect for fans of Jill Mansell, Phillipa Ashley, and Emma Burstall.


MY THOUGHTS:

Jo Jenkins is a new divorcee and her ex-husband is now engaged to her former best friend. However, everything in her life isn’t dark because she has a surprise in store. She discovers something completely unexpected, something that brings her hope. She receives a surprising inheritance—an old cottage in Cornwall from her ex-husband’s great aunt. This unexpected gift leaves Jo questioning her current life and wondering if she should leave her familiar surroundings to embrace this new chapter. Could this cottage become her forever home?

At first, Jo’s hesitancy is not surprising. But as she spends more time at the cottage, she begins to realize that it holds the potential to bring her a sense of order and peace. It may not be the beautiful place that she remembered from the past, but between the cottage and its many outbuildings, it has a certain charm that draws her in.


Jo soon meets Seamus, a friendly and talented handyman who proves to be invaluable when it comes to the much-needed renovations. As they work together, they form a deep friendship and Jo begins to rebuild her life. Jo also makes other friends in the small seaside town, and she begins to see a bright future for herself.


While there are certainly challenges along the way, Jo’s determination and the unwavering support of her dear Mum keep her going. The story is filled with heartwarming moments and heartbreaking ones, making it a truly captivating read. Kim Nash’s latest offering is an excellent testament to her wonderful storytelling. 

Many thanks to Boldwood Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kim Nash is an author of uplifting, funny, heartwarming, feel-good, romantic fiction.

She lives in Staffordshire with son Ollie and English Setter Roni, is Head of Publicity for Bookouture and is a book blogger at www.kimthebookworm.co.uk
.
Kim won the Romantic Novelists Association's Media Star of the Year in 2016, which she still can't quite believe. She is now quite delighted to be a member of the RNA.

When she's not working or writing, Kim can be found walking her dog, reading, standing on the sidelines of a football pitch cheering on Ollie and binge watching box sets on the TV. She's also quite partial to a spa day and a gin and tonic (not at the same time!) Kim also runs a book club in Cannock, Staffs.

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases. Your e-mail will not be shared with anyone else and you will only contacted about Kim's books.

Amazing Grace was her debut novel with Hera Books and came out in April 2019. Escape to Giddywell Grange is Kim's second novel and was published in September 2019. Sunshine and Second Chances is Kim's third novel and will be published on June 4th 2020.

You can read Kim's Blog here: www.kimthebookworm.co.uk