📖 Book Review~ Gentle Things by Danielle Giles

Pan MacMillan
23 July 2026

My thanks to the publisher for the invitation to read this book

 

The plague has passed, the fire has cooled, and Lucy North is in desperate need of a husband . . . From the acclaimed author of Mere comes a thrilling new tale of medicine, marriage and madness set in seventeenth-century London.

London, 1668. Though the streets hum with promise following the restoration of the crown, Lucy North is trapped. Her father’s recent death has left her mother saddled with debts she cannot pay. Lucy must marry the first man willing to take her without a dowry.

So when she meets Thomas Ashwell, a young and charming apothecary, Lucy quickly identifies an attractive route out. She falls in love easily, and when Thomas proposes she believes her future is finally secured.

But when Lucy falls and injures her head during their wedding party, things start to warp. Confined to her bedroom her dreams refuse to leave her at daybreak, and the voice in her head no longer sounds like her own. As Thomas plies her with tinctures and cures, a creeping fear takes root: Has this marriage saved her? Or will it bring about her end?

📖 My Review..

Set in London during the momentous years following the Plague and the Great Fire we meet Lucy North who lives with her mother in the Dolphin Inn, a bustling tavern which provides hospitality and entertainment for a teeming city. Inclined towards a profitable marriage for her daughter Lucy’s mother attempts to make a match with a man who is definitely not to her daughter’s liking. Thus taking matrimonial matters into her own hands Lucy sets about securing her own husband and quickly forms an attachment to the handsome young apothecary, Thomas Ashwell. Their betrothal has all the hallmarks of success that is until Lucy suffers a serious accident on her wedding day, resulting in a severe head injury. Left to the ministrations of her apothecary husband, Lucy is confined to her bedroom where she experiences vivid and possibly hallucinogenic dreams which may, or may not, have any basis in reality.

This is a really atmospheric historical novel which places us very firmly in seventeenth century London, a place filled with scurrilous gossip, fascinating superstitions and medical practises that were very much experimental, particularly medicinal cannibalism, which I have to admit to never having heard of before. It all points towards a distinctly disturbing element and a fascinating glimpse into seventeenth century cure-alls. The abundant richness of characters particularly the apothecary’s assistants, Brigit and Kate, add a subtle nuance and more than a sense of shock to the gothic outcome of the story.

Slow and considered, Gentle Things doesn’t rush towards its conclusion but rather leads us gently by the hand into the shadowy world of seventeenth century medical practices and of toxic relationships made worse by difficult circumstances.

About the Author

Danielle Giles is a writer and researcher based in Bristol. She has been published (writing as Danielle Vrublevskis) in Extra Teeth and Dear Damsels, shortlisted for the Bristol Short Story Prize and the Brick Lane Bookshop Short Story Prize, and longlisted for the Galley Beggar Press Short Story Prize. She won the Local Prize in the 2023 Bath Short Story Award. Mere, her first novel, was published by Mantle in 2025; Gentle Things is her second novel.

📖 Favourite Read of the Month ~ Venus, Vanishing by Rebecca Birrell

 

Pan MacMillan
Picador
16 July 2026

Thanks to the publisher for the invitation to read this book

Berlin, 1928. Hannah is new to the pleasures and freedoms of the city. She is a fledgling artist, a runaway, building a new life for herself in its galleries and clubs, and, at last, loving without boundaries.

But soon the party will be coming to an end. A consuming affair with her patron, Elke – the imperious wife of a powerful man – is reckless, yet life-changing, and it threatens to do more than ruin both of their reputations. Around them, people are disappearing. The shadows of something unspeakable are growing darker in the city. Hannah’s art could be the thing that secures her survival – or denies her any chance of escape.

📖 My Review…

Fledgling artist, Hannah Sherman wants more from life and has no interest in being shackled to an ordinary existence. Marriage and motherhood is not what she wants for herself. Dreary days spent working as a seamstress in her parent’s workshop Hannah longs for a way out and decides to take a huge leap of faith into a different life which is more suited to her exceptional artistic talent. 

Leaving behind her family is challenging and Hannah struggles to find her place in an ever-changing society but the help of new found friends and with the benefit of securing the patronage of a wealthy woman there comes the opportunity for Hannah to paint however, it comes with a tortured sense of artistic freedom. I followed Hannah’s progression with great interest, filled with excitement when she is given an art commission to paint a series of female nudes only to realise with a sinking inevitability that Hannah is about to travel along a much darker pathway. Life, art, politics and sexuality all converge in a story which is deep in historical meaning and alive with a creeping sort of cultural menace, which can only end in tragedy.  

Beautifully written, 1930s Berlin is brought to life, its initial vibrancy juxtaposed against the stark reality of Jewish persecution as the city enters into a dark chapter in its history. There is a realistic sense of unease which permeates throughout the entirety of the story and I couldn’t help but be fascinated as Hannah negotiates her way through the difficulties of living in a time of horrifying political and social changes, her interaction with people, both good and evil, would greatly influence her life going forward. 

Slow and considered, Venus, Vanishing, is a commendable debut, it is a book which does not rush to get its message across but rather reveals its secrets in moments of flawed beauty and inevitable sadness. It lingers long after the last page is turned and so for that reason I am delighted to make it my Favourite Read of the Month for July.

About the Author

Rebecca Birrell is an art historian and a Bye-Fellow in the History of Art at Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge. She was formerly the curator of nineteenth and twentieth century paintings and drawings at the Fitzwilliam Museum and has occupied curatorial positions at the Jewish Museum London, the Department of Prints and Drawing at the British Museum, and at the Charleston Trust. She studied English literature at University College London, followed by a master's in women’s studies at the University of Oxford and a PhD from the Edinburgh College of Art. Venus, Vanishing is her debut novel.

🎧📖 Book Review ~ My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney

MacMillan Audio
January 2026

Narrated by : Bel Powley, Richard Armitage, Henry Rodley 

BorrowBox from local library

Eden Fox, an artist on the brink of her big break, sets off for a run before her first exhibition. When she returns to the home she recently moved into, Spyglass, an enchanting old house in Hope Falls, nothing is as it should be. Her key doesn’t fit. A woman, eerily similar to her, answers the door. And her husband insists that the stranger is his wife.

One house. One husband. Two women. Someone is lying.

Six months earlier, a reclusive Londoner called Birdy, reeling from a life-changing diagnosis, inherits Spyglass. This unexpected gift from a long-lost grandmother brings her to the pretty seaside village of Hope Falls. But then Birdy stumbles upon a shadowy London clinic that claims to be able to predict a person's date of death, including her own. Secrets start to unravel, and as the line between truth and lies blurs, Birdy feels compelled to right some old wrongs.

My Husband’s Wife is a tangled web of deception, obsession, and mystery that will keep you guessing until the last page. Prepare yourself for the ultimate mind-bending marriage thriller and step inside Spyglass – if you dare – to experience a story where nothing is as it seems.

🎧My Review..

Oh, what a tangled web we weave/when first we practise to deceive, and there is nothing more tangled than this complex thriller which absolutely nails the tension from the very beginning in a story which dances and weaves its way through a whole lot of lies, secrets and even more lies. All of which are expertly controlled by a set of unreliable protagonists who you can never truly believe if they are telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing like the truth.

My Husband’s Wife is a masterclass in subterfuge, each character gets under your skin to such an extent that you want to believe what they’re saying but there are so many red herrings and plot twists that any of them could be withholding the truth. The roller coaster of a ride takes some concentration and I was really pleased to have the company of three excellent audio narrators who control the characters so skilfully - Birdy, Harrison, Eden and Carter come vibrantly to life in a story which rattles along at high speed. The added bonus of short and snappy chapters certainly help to keep the momentum of the plot cranked up to high.

Intelligently written, with enough depth of detail to keep me listening, the nine hours of narration flew by in a flash and with the unexpected twist at the end I was left with a real sense of satisfaction which comes from having listened to a complex story, well told.

About the Author 

Alice Feeney is the Sunday Times and New York Times multi-million-copy bestselling author of eight novels. The Netflix adaptation of His & Hers was a Global number 1 in 80 countries, and the most watched TV show in the world in January 2026.

Alice was a BBC journalist for fifteen years before becoming an author. Her books have been translated into forty languages, and have been optioned for major screen adaptations, including her most recent novel, My Husband’s Wife. Her ninth novel, Twist, will be published in 2027.

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📖 Book Review ~ She Never Came Back by Patricia Dixon

Boldwood

23 July 2026

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of thei sbook

 

Someone knows what happened...

Seventeen years ago, Melanie Carter vanished on a lonely road in rural France. No body. No answers. The case went cold.

Now, her troubled sister Sunny has fled to the same village, convinced Melanie is calling her back. Taken in by a friendly local known as Happy Frank, Sunny begins digging into the past – and edges closer to a secret someone will do anything to keep hidden.

In nearby La Baule, glamorous socialite Nanette Montmartre looks to have everything she ever wanted. But an urgent call from England threatens to expose the truth she and her mother buried after that long-ago summer.

As young women begin disappearing across France, fears of a serial killer surface. And in Saint-Luc, the danger is closer than anyone thinks.

A pulse-racing psychological thriller about family secrets, toxic love, and darkness hiding in plain sight.

📖 My Review..

With the seventeenth anniversary of her older sister’s disappearance coming round again Sunny Carter decides that now is the time for her to return to France and go back to the same rural village where her sister was last seen. However, in order to get some sort of resolution Sunny must confront the demons of the past, uncovering huge secrets, and devastating lies, always in the hope that the truth about Melanie’s disappearance will finally be revealed.

This complex story is told through several characters who have all had to live with their own sorrow about Melanie’s disappearance, from the thought processes of her best friend Nanette, to the torment of Melanie and Sunny’s mother, Pamela, there are deep underlying secrets which refuse to go away. It is only when Sunny starts to disturb the equilibrium that the toxic secrets, so long buried, can finally come to the surface.

There are twists and turns a plenty in this fast paced psychological thriller, some of the twists had my heart pounding as I read faster in order to get the final conclusion, which, when it came, didn’t disappoint. Cleverly and intelligently written, this is a gripping story well told from start to finish, and with set of characters who, whilst not wholly likeable, certainly command the reader’s attention.

About the Author 

Patricia Dixon is an internationally bestselling author of psychological thrillers and women’s fiction. Previously published by Bloodhound, Boldwood will re-publish several of her backlist titles alongside new psychological thrillers from July 2026.

X #PatriciaDixon #SheNeverCameBack

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☀️Summer Reads ~ A Proposal in Provence by Alison Roberts

It’s that time of year again when I choose books which would make the perfect holiday reading. The stories which are easy enough to pick up and put down and which lend themselves, both by plot and characters, to lazy afternoons in the sunshine.

I’ll be sharing a few of the books which I think are perfect escapism summer reading. 

Look for #SummerReads

Boldwood
26 July 2026

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

In Provence’s golden heat, even guarded hearts surrender.

Tilly is an expert in love—just not her own. As the owner of A Promise in Provence, she creates exquisite marriage proposals for clients chasing happily-ever-afters in sun-drenched Provence. And along the way allows herself one dangerous indulgence: imagining what it might feel like to be loved that way herself.

But when Tilly arrives to meet her latest client, intensely private businessman Angus, it’s already a disaster. Angus is alone. There is no fiancée and no longer a proposal to plan. Instead of wasting the trip, Angus asks Tilly to show him the sights. With one strict condition: no mention of romance.

But Provence has other plans. Between vineyard lunches, sunlit chaos, and Tilly’s relentless optimism clashing with Angus’s careful restraint, attraction becomes impossible to ignore. As the lines between client and companion blur, they begin to wonder if love is easiest to find in the last place either of them expected.

☀️ My Review..

Tilly’s fledging business, A Promise in Provence, aims to deliver the perfect backdrop for a romantic marriage proposal and when she is contacted by Scottish businessman Angus McCleod she is determined to make sure everything goes exactly as arranged. However, when Angus arrives at the airport without his fiancée, Tilly is met with a man who has no romance in his soul, and is completely taken by surprise when Angus asks that the planned trip should still go ahead with Tilly as his guide but with absolutely no mention of romance.

What then follows is a wonderful trip around the beautiful region of Provence, which reads like a beautifully put together travelogue, complete with lavender fields and the most glorious descriptions of cosy French villages with beautiful scenery and stunning history. However, this is not just a love story to Provence, it’s also unashamedly romantic, with a story which melted my heart, whether it was sipping wine with Tilly and Angus in secluded vineyards, or floating through the sky in a hot air balloon, the story oozes romance in bucketfuls. 

A Proposal in Provence is a beautifully described and wonderfully written love story about taking a chance on love when the right person comes along. It’s the perfect read for a lovely summer’s day.

About the Author

Alison Roberts is the author of over one hundred romance novels, joining Boldwood to write ‘wish you were here’ fiction set in the South of France.

☀️Summer Reads ~ The Greek Guesthouse by Michelle Vernal

It’s that time of year again when I choose books which would make the perfect holiday reading. The stories which are easy enough to pick up and put down and which lend themselves, both by plot and characters, to lazy afternoons in the sunshine.

I’ll be sharing a few of the books which I think are perfect escapism summer reading. 

Look for #Summer Reads

Bookouture
23 July 2026

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

Dropping my suitcase at my feet, I stare up at the Greek guesthouse with its faded blue shutters, clambering purple bougainvillea and wrought-iron balconies spilling pink and red geraniums. I haven’t felt truly at home anywhere since I lost my sister. But maybe Eleni’s is different. I have a feeling that anything is possible here…

Annie always has a plan, always knows where her life is headed. But this summer, heartbroken after her sister’s death, she just feels untethered and alone. An invitation to stay at her old friend Kassia’s family guesthouse on the island of Crete comes at the perfect time – an excuse to get on a plane and leave her crumbling life behind for a few weeks.

Before she even finishes unpacking, Annie is wrapped up in the noisy warmth of Kassia’s chaotic, loving family. She soon finds herself cooking with Kassia’s mother, playing with the children under the orange trees… and meeting Kassia’s handsome brother-in-law Alexandros over dinner. Romance is the last thing on her mind, but the night she spends with him, swimming by moonlight and gazing at the stars in the lavender-scented air, heals something in her that she didn’t know was broken.

This was only supposed to be a temporary stay, but the longer Annie spends on Crete, the more she feels that this magical place might hold the key to her future. And as this life-changing summer draws to a close, can she leave her old plans behind her and find the courage to let her life make a map all of its own?

☀️ My Review

Even though Annie Rivers has a reasonable life with her fiancé in New Zealand she knows, since the loss of her beloved sister, that she just hasn’t been truly settled. So, still grieving her loss, Annie makes the spontaneous decision to make a new start and heads for the beautiful Greek island of Crete where she starts afresh with friends who soon become as close as family. With the Bikakis family, at their beautiful guesthouse, Annie finds a new sense of purpose and a freedom she didn’t know she needed until she discovered it in the glorious beauty of the island.

This is such a beautifully put together summer story, filled with family and friends, glorious blue skies and sumptuous Greek food, it made me quite nostalgic for the sights, sounds and lavender scented aromas of a Greek island summer. I loved getting to know the Bikakis family, from the matriarchal mama, so stern but with a heart of gold, the tiny children Mateos and Nickolaos, their lovely mama Kassia and of course the deliciously handsome Alexandros, all combine to form a single summer of Greek perfection in a delightfully immersive read which made me smile from start to finish.

About the Author

Michelle Vernal is a New Zealand author who writes stories that will take you onto the page with her characters and make you feel part of their lives. She writes with humour and warmth, and her readers describe her books as unputdownable, feel good and funny. Her writing has been likened to Maeve Binchy but with a modern-day vernacular. In 2015 she was shortlisted for the Love Stories Award. In 2020 she won the Reader’s Favorite Gold Medal Award for Chick lit, and in 2021 was shortlisted for the Page Turner Book Awards.

Website

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📖 Publication Day Book Review ~ 757 by MJ Porter

Boldwood 
22 July 2026

House of Mercia 

My thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to review this book 

This is Mercia. The year is 757. 

A king will fall. A king will rise. 

But first, civil war will rage.

King Æthelbald's forty-year vice-like rule over Mercia has been rigid. But he lacks a legitimate heir despite his insatiable bedchamber antics.

Offa must stand hostage to his family’s good behaviour, when his father missteps in removing his mother from Æthelbald’s bed. Shockingly, his younger sister now replaces her.

But the king isn’t finished with his denigration of Offa’s noble House. When his parents are traitorously killed, Offa’s resentment grows, compounded by the ridicule heaped on him by King Æthelbald’s oathsworn warriors.

With the king’s health deteriorating, the matter of the succession becomes paramount. There are plenty who share a claim to the kingship.Discord threatens to fracture the mighty realm, and those with sword and shield, seax and spear are prepared to risk it all to be the future king of Mercia.

📖 My Review..

Enter the dark ages at your peril and immerse yourself in the England of AD 757 when into the lion’s den court of King Æthelbald comes teenage Offa who, together with his family, is subjected to the aging King’s wrath. Taken hostage, Offa is subjected to systematic humiliation and never ending misery however, over time Offa infiltrates into the kings elite guard of warriors. With daily combat training, with seax and shield, Offa must quietly bide his time until his ordeal is over and he can be restored to his Mercian lands.

As with any new series there is a certain amount of scene setting and we have main characters to get to know which I think the author brings to life with a skilful eye for traits and personality quirks which will be developed more fully as the series progresses. I had to concentrate on people, there are lots of them, and all seem to clamour for attention however, I followed the story with great interest, learning more about this dark time in history which, I have to confess, I knew very little about. In 757 we land directly in a country at war with itself, tribes fight for supremacy in situations where brute force succeeds over diplomacy. Political shenanigans are never far away, with gritty and realistic battle scenes which leave nothing to the imagination, gory and gruesome in places, this is the dark ages in all its demanding glory.

Cleverly written by an author who brings history alive in well researched detail, the story introduces us to the scrabble of 8th century politics and to the emergence of Offa of Mercia. It’s a powerfully immersive story which abounds with intrigue and danger and which transports us back to a dark time when the manifestation of power was forged on the turn of a well-honed seax.

About the Author

MJ Porter is the author of many historical novels set predominantly in Seventh to Eleventh-Century England, and in Viking Age Denmark. They were raised in the shadow of a building that they believed housed the bones of long-dead Kings of Mercia – so their writing destiny was set.

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