📖 Book Review ~ Troublemaker by Lesley Kara

Random House UK
Random House
15 January 2026

Thanks to the publisher for my copy this book

Storm used to be just like her name. Wild and strong. A force to be reckoned with.

But ever since her younger brother was killed in a violent mugging, she has led a very different life: quiet and cautious, seeing danger everywhere. Storm’s tendency to panic has resulted in several false alarms, so when she witnesses a murder with uncanny similarities to the way her brother was killed, and yet no body is found and no one is reported missing, the police don’t take her seriously.

But Storm knows what she saw. And the murder is only the start – the killer will stop at nothing to keep Storm quiet. But how can she solve the murder and stay out of danger when no one believes her?

📖 My Review…

After the traumatic death of her younger brother, Storm tries to pick up the pieces of her life and whilst she tries to carry on, she can’t shake off the suspicion that someone is targeting her. After a series of false alarms, and unable to convince the police, Storm is labelled a troublemaker and isn’t taken seriously. However, when events start to spiral out of control Storm realises that she has to conduct her own investigation whilst at the same time placing herself in great danger.

This is a cleverly written psychological suspense story which has all the necessary twists and turns to keep you guessing and whilst it took me a while to warm to Storm’s character I couldn’t help but want everything to work out well for her. The pace of the story is good, with lots going on, a few cleverly placed red herrings and some scary situations that had me gripped, especially toward the end of the story when the tension really starts to rack up.

Troublemaker looks at the issues around unresolved grief and the effects of PTSD and does so in an entirely appropriate manner whilst the same timely keeping the edginess of the story paramount.

Best Read With: A double shot of espresso and a comforting chocolate hobnob.

About the Author

Lesley Kara is the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Rumour, Who Did You Tell?, The Dare, The Apartment Upstairs and The Other Tenant. The Rumour was the highest selling crime fiction debut of 2019 in the UK, a Kindle No.1 bestseller, and is now a major TV series on Channel 5. Lesley is an alumna of the Faber Academy 'Writing a Novel' course. She lives in Kent.

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Instagram @lesleykarawriter

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📖 BlogTour ~ The Arctic Cruise by Caroline James

Avon
15 January 2026
My thanks to the publisher for the copy of the book
And to Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation to the blog tour

Will the Arctic wonderland work its magic this winter?

Joy never imagined stepping aboard a cruise ship without her husband, Tom. Now widowed, Joy wonders what her voyage on the Emerald Dream will hold – and as it glides through breathtaking Norwegian fjords, she longs to believe in happiness again. However, she carries a secret that could unravel her fragile hopes if it ever came to light…

Elsewhere on deck, as the sun dips below the horizon and the polar night sets in, Henry, a lifelong bachelor, is living his dream of seeing the Northern Lights. Having long since given up on love, he now dedicates himself to his passion for photography. But when he meets Joy, is it more than the aurora borealis that catches his eye?

As they embark on a snow-dusted adventure which takes them from bustling ports to reindeer-drawn sleigh rides, will Joy and Henry find the courage to embrace love again? Or will hidden truths sink the possibility of a new beginning?

📖 My Review..

Recently widowed and still coming to terms with her husband’s untimely death Joy embarks on a solo cruise to Norway. It’s a bittersweet journey as she should have travelled with her husband but summoning all her courage Joy gradually settles into the cruise way of life and starts to make friends amongst the other passengers. Likewise, Henry is also embarking on a solo trip and worries that he is a bit of a loner and might not have enough in common with the other passengers however, fate intervenes and his burgeoning friendship with Joy becomes a rather special and unexpected delight.

This is a beautifully written story which looks at the sadness of being alone and yet offers hope that second chances can be possible if you allow yourself to live a little. I’ve throughly enjoyed getting to know the passengers on board the Emerald Dream, some, it must be said, are more likeable than others but they all bring their own special charm to the story. There is a lovely warmth to the story and some genuinely funny bits which had me laughing out loud and a ship full of fascinating characters who all make cruising aboard the Emerald Dream such fun. 

The Arctic Cruise is another wonderful story by this talented writer who knows how to bring her characters alive and who writes her warm-hearted stories with such passion. Sailing into Norway was such a treat and so well described that I really felt as though I was on board ship, experiencing the all exciting sights of a winter cruise, on a fabulous ship, and with the delicious chill of a romantic Arctic adventure.

🍾  Best read with : A sparkly glass of bubbly under the spectacular beauty of the Northern Lights

About the Author

Caroline James is the celebrated author of later-life fiction, including THE CRUISE, the #1 best-seller that has captivated cruise ship passengers worldwide, and her eagerly anticipated follow-up novel, THE CRUISE CLUB, is out now.

Her best selling novel ATTICUS ARNOTT’S GREAT ADVENTURE is described as “A heartwarming and uplifting read where the characters shine from the page.”

Caroline’s vibrant storytelling stems from her colourful career. Before becoming a full-time writer, she carved out a fascinating path in the hospitality industry, owning a charming country house hotel and a lively pub. As a media agent, she worked closely with celebrity chefs, giving her an insider’s perspective on the glitz, glamour, and grit of the culinary world. When she finally turned her focus to writing, she discovered her true calling, penning best-selling novels that have garnered her legions of fans.

When she’s not writing in her cosy writing retreat, Caroline enjoys tranquil walks with Fred, her Westie, and refreshing swims in a local lake. As a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the SoA, ARRA, and the Society of Women’s Writers & Journalists, Caroline is a champion of lifelong creativity.

Social Media links

www.carolinejames.co.uk

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📖 Book Review ~ Whipster by Susan Grossey

31 October 2025
Cambridge Hardiman Mysteries #3

Thank you to the author for the copy of this book

 

With the University preparing for Michaelmas term in 1827, Cambridge is alive with promises of fortunes to be made. University constable Gregory Hardiman has neither the appetite nor the funds to invest, but many others are tempted by the gleam of Bolivian silver. On patrol one evening Gregory is called to a violent incident at an inn, and before long his enquiries lead him to several of the town’s best-known figures – including the Master of St Clement’s College.

Struggling to make sense of what he has learned, Gregory himself is targeted as someone threatens to blackmail him. And with a chance of happiness once again within his grasp, can he risk losing it all if his past is revealed?

📖My Review..

Cambridge 1827 and as the town readies itself for a new term Gregory Hardiman continues to combine his duties as ostler at the Hoop inn together with the role of university Constable. On one of his nightly patrols Hardiman is called to an inn in town where he witnesses the results a violent crime and is dismayed to discover he recognises one of the victims. However, it would seem that whilst seeking out the evil within his midst he upsets someone who has the power to shatter Hardiman’s well guarded secrets. With his usual keen eye for sleuthing Hardiman sets about discovering who was responsible for this heinous crime and in doing so he  uncovers a a sorry tale of blackmail, corruption and deceit.

It’s been a real pleasure to be back in company with Hardiman, he’s such a steadfast man, filled with a genuine need to help others and has a keen eye for seeking out the truth. He cleverly spots charlatans and miscreants and does his utmost to bring them to justice but is always aware of the fickleness of human nature. There is such a strong sense of historical authenticity that whilst reading I feel as if I am whisked away to walk the dark streets with Hardiman as he maintains his role as university Constable finding trouble in the shadows and hidden passageways of Georgian Cambridge.

The eponymous Whipster on whom the story revolves is written with a fine eye for historical detail and an uncanny knack of bringing the smallest detail to life. I must admit to sneaking to the back of the book to the excellent glossary in order to look up the meaning of the word and it fits the story perfectly.

☕️ Best Read with: A strong coffee and a couple of generous slices of damson loaf

About the Author

Susan Grossey is the author of the successful Constable Sam Plank series of historical novels set in the early part of the nineteenth century. Sizar is the second novel in the Cambridge Hardiman Mysteries, set in Cambridge in the 1820s and narrated by a university constable called Gregory Hardiman.

Website

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📖 BlogTour ~ A Fresh Start at the Cornish Country Hospital by Jo Bartlett

Boldwood Books
11 January 2026

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of the book
And to Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation to the blog tour.

When life changes in an instant, how do you find the courage to begin again? 

A&E doctor, Eve Bellingham’s life changed forever the night her fiancé Max was the victim of a brutal attack. Now, two years later, she has moved her life to Cornwall and is working at St Piran’s Hospital, helping his family cope as Max struggles with his devastating injuries.

But though Eve’s loyalty has never wavered, the man she loved is gone. Annie - Max’s mother - still clings to the hope that one day everything will return to how it was, but Eve isn't so sure it ever will. Torn between duty and despair, Eve feels trapped in a life that no longer fits.

Then she meets Felix Grainger, the dedicated occupational therapist helping Max towards independence. With kindness and quiet strength, he awakens feelings Eve thought she’d lost forever.

To seize her second chance, Eve must risk breaking the only family she’s ever known. Because sometimes, letting go is the bravest way to begin again.

📖 My Review..

Eve Bellingham thought that she had her life pretty much mapped out but then the fickle finger of fate intervened and she had to reconsider everything about her life going forward. With her seriously injured fiancé in a rehabilitation unit Eve relocates to be nearer to him and in doing so becomes part of the medical family at St Piran’s Hospital although her new medical colleagues have no idea what Eve is having to deal with in her private life.

With her usual flair for small details the author brings this quiet corner of Cornwall to life and as we follow Eve’s emotional journey so we also meet again with the familiar characters who make this series so enjoyable. With compassion and understanding for all the minutiae of medical detail we get to know Eve as she treats those patients who find themselves in her care at the A&E department and yet it is in the finer details of the trauma which was suffered by Eve’s fiancé, and his family, where the emotional heartstrings really start to pull.

As always with this author’s lovely stories I raced through the book almost in one sitting, eager to discover just how Eve’s story would evolve especially in light of her burgeoning friendship with her colleague, Felix, who is also having to make some really tough life choices. Beautifully written, and filled with heartfelt compassion, A Fresh Start at the Cornish Country Hospital is another lovely story in this very popular series of medical/romance books.

☕️ Best Read With: A comforting hot chocolate and one of Gwen’s muffins

About the Author

Jo Bartlett is the bestselling author of over nineteen women’s fiction titles. She fits her writing in between her two day jobs as an educational consultant and university lecturer and lives with her family and three dogs on the Kent coast.

Twitter /  X  @J_B_Writer #AFreshStartAtTheCornishCountryHospital

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📖 Book Review ~ A Death in Glasgow by Eva Macrae

Random House UK
Penguin Books UK
Cornerstone
8 January 2025
Thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

She bought a return ticket. She never came back…

When Holly Campbell’s body is found on the train tracks at Glasgow Central, police quickly rule it a suicide.

She’d had a troubled past. She’d tried before.

But Sergeant May Mackay can’t let one detail go. If Holly never wanted to come home, why did she buy a return ticket?

Driven by her own haunting loss and a promise to Holly’s grieving mother, May is determined to solve the mystery.

But the deeper she digs, the more sinister the truth becomes.

Someone is hiding a terrible secret. And they’ll do whatever it takes to keep it buried.

Even if it means silencing May for good.

📖My Review..

Holly Campbell’s mother is distraught by the violent death of her teenage daughter and appeals to Sergeant May Mackay to do all she can to determine just why Holly landed on the train tracks at Glasgow Central Station. With so many twists and turns this well written and fast paced crime novel certainly hits the ground running and doesn’t let go of the tension until the whole of this complex crime drama has played out.

As it’s the start of what I hope is a new crime series there is a certain amount of scene setting and Sergeant Mackay’s own complex lifestyle certainly adds a very poignant dynamic to the story. However, it is Mackay’s tenacity to get into the very heart of the crime, leaving no stone unturned, in her quest for justice for Holly, and peace of mind for Holly’s grieving mother. Meanwhile as the story progresses May Mackay makes some very powerful enemies amongst the organised crime gangs who prey on the weak and vulnerable of Glasgow’s underbelly. I am sure we’ll get to know more about this corrupt gangland world in future hard hitting crime stories.

Gritty and powerful, A Death In Glasgow is a great introduction to Sergeant May Mackay and I hope to see more of her in future stories.

☕️Best Read With: : A tepid coffee and a hasty sandwich 

About the Author

Eva Macrae is the author of A Death in Glasgow, a thrilling police procedural set in Glasgow which is publishing in January 2026. Having been born in Glasgow, Eva is a former newspaper photographer turned crime

📖 Blog Tour ~ Tomorrow Starts Today by Jessica Redland

Boldwood Books
8 January 2026

Escape to the Lakes #5
Thanks to the publisher and Rachel's Random Resources
for the book and invitation to the blog tour

It's never too late to find yourself...

When she unexpectedly loses her husband, Yvonne Kellerman's world turns quiet and grey. Five years on, her days are filled with the gentle chatter of her loyal parrot, Trevor, and the comfort of her crafting table—but she can’t shake the feeling that life is slipping her by and Yvonne feels lost and lonelier than ever.

When she joins the local crafting club at Willowdale Village Hall, Yvonne expects nothing more than a few afternoons of sewing. Instead, amongst the other local crafters, she discovers friendship, laughter and a renewed appreciation for her gorgeous Lake District home. It’s a reminder that she isn’t alone and, with each new stitch, her confidence returns, and so does her belief that it's never too late for fresh starts and new beginnings.

When a familiar face from her past reappears, Yvonne finds herself standing at a crossroads: will she protect her heart, or embrace the chance to love—and truly live—again?

A heartwarming story of friendship, courage, and second chances by the million copy bestseller Jessica Redland.

📖 My Review …

Overcome by loneliness Yvonne Kellerman takes a chance on joining a local crafting club at Willowdale Village Hall and in doing so allows herself to become part of a group of lovely people who will change the course of her life. I think what this author does best is show the emotional support which comes from friendship groups, especially in rural communities, and brings together characters who each have their own troubles but who are willing to help and support others in need.

There is a genuine warmth to the story which right from the outset me feel included in the crafting group with Yvonne as she tentatively starts to rebuild her life. Thanks to the author’s skill in bringing her lovely characters to life I could well imagine sitting in the village hall with my crochet and sharing cake, and chatter, over cups of tea. However, whilst the story has its wonderful lighthearted moments there are also some difficult issues which the author describes with her usual compassionate skill and fine attention to even the smallest of detail. I have really enjoyed being back in Willowdale again as it is a place I now feel to be amongst friends and  making even more new friends amongst the crafting community has been a real joy. Tomorrow Starts Today is a warm and wonderful story of delightful friendships, the tentativeness of second chances and of going forward with renewed hope for the future. 

Whilst Tomorrow Starts Today is the fifth book in the Escape to the Lakes series, it can be read as a standalone story as the author cleverly adds a list of recurring characters at the start of the story however, as with any series, it’s best to start at the beginning to appreciate the character development.

☕️ Best read with : A large slice of chocolate cake and a strong cup of tea

About the Author

Jessica Redland is the million-copy bestselling author of novels, including the Hedgehog Hollow and Escape to the Lakes series. Inspired by her hometown of Scarborough and the Lake District, she writes uplifting women’s fiction of love, friendship and community.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessicaRedlandAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessicaRedland

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicaredlandauthor/

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📖 Publication Day review ~ The Fox of Kensal Green by Richard Tyrrell

7 January 2026

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

A quiet neighbourhood of London is about to be shattered.

This is a story about people coming together and looking out for each other. No person is an island, including Wilf Kelly, its hero. Many neighbours help him out on the quiet. Also on the quiet, Wilf tames a wild fox and goes on a voyage of self-discovery.

Normally, little happens in these mixed streets of families, retirees, podcasters and gossips. A little group create a community garden. An ageing journalist writes nature columns. A left-wing Scotsman longs for the glory days when he interviewed Castro. A disabled professor plans a book clearance. Supine Mario takes far too many drugs. And Wilf Kelly decides to get a fox as a pet.

When Wilf is accused of an awful crime, he becomes the target of a police and media firestorm. It's a drama that galvanises not just the local community but people from all around London.

A superbly written debut novel with a big heart, that will make you laugh, cry and remind you of the power of community spirit.

📖 My Review…

What a great start to my reading year this turned out to be with the thought provoking and heart-warming story of Wilf Kelly and his attempts to befriend one of the foxes he has seen on one of his regular visits to a local cemetery. Wilf is a quiet man, living in isolation, content within his own boundaries and yet his neighbours hold him in great esteem so much so they rally to his defence when he is suspected of a violent crime. 

Gentle and reflective, there is much to love about The Fox of Kensal Green as not only does Wilf Kelly become so much more than a local hero, he becomes one of those characters who you take into your heart and who stays with you long after his story is told. With an array of characters who each bring their own dynamic to the story I read about Wilf’s connection to the fox, to the nature on his doorstep, to the challenging life he had followed since his mother’s death and to the way his gentle soul had endeared him to a community and to the people who call Kensal Green home.

It’s rare that I start the year with a book that I am eager to place on my favourites list but such is the case with this one. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Wilf, his friend Felicia and all those who flitted into and out of his life. I loved the rapport which developed between Wilf and the community but more especially with the eponymous fox and I must admit to shedding a little tear during parts of the story. Beautifully written and utterly memorable, The Fox of Kensal Green will stay with me for a long time.

☕️ Best read with : A sturdy cup of tea and chips heavy on the vinegar.

About the Author

Richard Tyrrell was born in Ireland. He graduated in science from UCD but then took up writing. His poems were published widely in literary magazines, and he was a trustee of the Poetry Society, serving a year as its first Irish Chairman. He was a finalist in the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting and on Channel 4's The Play's the Thing. After many years in commercial writing, he returned to literature with The Fox of Kensal Green, his first novel.

Blue Sky @saltpublishing.com

📖 Blogathon ~ A Woman Scorned by Jack Jordan

Simon & Schuster
5 June 2025

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of the book and to Compulsive Readers for the opportunity
to take part in this Blogathon

 

Are you afraid? You should be.

The husband: in over his head with no way of knowing the truth.

The mistress: blinded by love, betrayed by her family...

The neighbour: will stop at nothing to protect the life he has fought to create.

The wife: a woman bent on revenge, but how far is she willing to go...?

📖 My Review..

Never underestimate a woman scorned and especially one that has the perfect plan for revenge and the nerve to see it through to completion. This clever short story has all the elements of this author’s special skill at drawing you into the plot from the very beginning and even though you know it’s not going to end well for someone you can’t help but be engrossed in the who, what, where and how of the modus operandi.

Coming in at 137 pages, this is an easily manageable quick read and what strikes me the most is that whilst this could so easily have been developed into a full length story, as there really is enough going on for at least another couple of hundred pages, it is also perfectly plausible to work as a succinct short story. I don’t want to reveal anything about the plot which would give all the cleverly controlled plot twists away but safe to say I was on the edge of my seat throughout and read the whole thing through in one sitting. A wronged wife, a disappointed mistress and a deceitful neighbour certainly livened up a dull afternoon on the run up to Christmas 🙂

If you’ve not read any of this talented author’s work before then A Woman Scorned would make a great introduction to his work. I’m sure that after reading this clever little revenge story, you’ll want to read more of Jack Jordan’s clever psychological fiction.

First published by Aria in 2018, A Woman Scorned has now been republished by Simon and Schuster in 2025.

🍾 Best Read with : A glass of champagne and a Chinese takeaway

About the Author

Jack Jordan is the global bestselling author of Anything for Her, My Girl, A Woman Scorned, Before Her Eyes, Night by Night, Do No Harm and Conviction, and an Amazon No. 1 bestseller in the UK, Canada and Australia.

Do No Harm was described as ‘chilling’ by Sarah Pearse, ‘brilliant’ by Lesley Kara and ‘pulse-racing’ by Louise Candlish. It was an instant Times bestseller on first publication and a Waterstones Thriller of the Month pick.

To find out more, follow Jack on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok:

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📖 A New Year of Books ~ 2026

Looking forward to another year of Jaffareadstoo with lots of exciting books due to the published this year.

Here are some of the books I am looking forward to reading

 in the first few months of 2026

***

Troublemaker - Lesley Kara ( January)

The Fox of Kensal Green - Richard Tyrell (January) ✔️

A Death in Glasgow - Eve McCrae (January) ✔️

***

I’ll be Watching You - Deborah Masson (February)

The Sea Child - Laura Wilgus (February)

The Infamous Gilberts - Angela Tomaski (February)

Fireflies in Winter - Eleanor Shearer (February)

***

The Sea Stone Sisters -  Eleanor Buchanan ( March)

The Truth About Ruby Cooper - Liz Nugent (March)

The Drowning Places - Sarah Hilary (April)

Caller Unknown - Gillian McAllister (April)

The Drowning Places - Sarah Hilary (April)

***

American Fantasy - Emma Straub (May)

***

The Last to Know -  Laura Jane Williams (June)