Top Ten Tuesday: Books with books on the cover

Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's theme is a Indie Freebie (This topic encompasses a lot: your favorite indie bookstores, indie books, indie authors, indie publishers/presses, indie books on your to-read list, indie authors I read before they became traditionally published, etc.) (submitted by @dark.shelf.of.wonders and Books Are The New Black)

However, I am going to go rogue (again) and I am featuring books with books on the cover!

The Story Collector by Evie Woods - I am a bit hit and miss on books by this author. I loved The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris. This one....not so much. It wasn't bad. It just wasn't great either! (review)

The Secret Society of Librarians by Kate Thompson - I have, however, loved all the librarian books by Kate Thompson

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page - Loved this one too. 

A Study in Sparkling by Jodi McAlister - I haven't read this one yet, but I did recently go to the launch. I did love the previous book in this trilogy so I have high hopes for this one!

The Astral Library by Kate Quinn - I had high hopes for this one too as I had really enjoyed quite a few of Kate Quinn's historical fiction novels, but this one was very different from her normal books. (mini review)

The Last Page Cafe by Kate Storey - This book is on my list as it is one I want to read!

The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan - A crumbling Scottish castle, a blizzard, a missing book! A lot of fun. 

The Storytellers by Sue Heath - I am always very excited to read a new Sue Heath book! There's a new one out soon! (my review)

The Other Bridget by Rachael Johns - I love the cover of this book with all the books on the shelf! (my review)

The Paris Bookshop for the Broken Hearted by Rebecca Raisin - A bookshop in Paris! I am there! (my review)

Blog Tour: The Secret Diary of Rome by M A McLaughlin

 

What makes you decide to try a new author? Sometimes it will be the blurb, sometimes it might be the cover and other times it might be the title. In the case of this book, it was all three!

Since her mother died, book restorer Emilia Rinaldi has been a bit lost, but she is now getting herself back together, thanks in part to her engagement to dashing Englishman Oliver after a whirlwind romance. While cleaning out her mother's house, she finds an antique music box which includes a page from a diary and an old photo. When she gets a phone call from Rome telling her that she is the sole recipient of her grandmother's estate, which includes a villa, she knows that she must go to Rome immediately, much to her fiancé's annoyance.

Emilia's mother and grandmother had had a falling out years before, and so Emilia never met her. Once in Rome, she is given a diary (the same one that the torn-out page had come from). It turns out that the diary was by Lizzy Siddal, wife and muse to Dante Gabriel Rossetti. In her own right, Lizzy was a model and an artist herself, but her relationship with Rossetti and his family was volatile, so she was often in low spirits.

As we progress through the story, Emilia begins to understand her mother's story and what drove her to move to America, and then as she does some restoration of the diary, she learns about Lizzy's life, her love with Rossetti, her concerns about dubious characters who take advantage and more. She also finds out about the other parts of her inheritance which include some paintings, as well as a priceless collection of antique books.

I do love a book about art history, and I have to admit I didn't really know much about Rossetti's art. I had heard both his and Lizzie's names before but I learnt a lot through this book, and have since found myself going down the rabbit hole of pre-Raphaelite art.

The majority of the book is set in 1960s Rome but there were quite a few references to events that happened during the WWII, given that it was only 15 years previous. Via the diary, we are taken back to the 1860s where we watched Lizzy in her triumphs but also in her despairs

Now I am keen to pick up the author's previous book which also has a connection to the famous Rossetti family.

I am sharing this review with New Release Challenge hosted at The Chocolate Lady's Book Review Blog, the Bookish Books challenge hosted at Bloggin'Bout Books and the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge which I host here. Thanks to the publisher and Zooloo's Book Tours for the review copy. Be sure to check out other stops on the blog tour below.

Rating 4/5

About the book

A hidden diary. A story thatʼs waited a hundred years to be told . . . 

1960, New York. 

Emilia Rinaldi restores broken books for a living. She knows how to bring lost stories back to life. 

The one story she cannot repair is her own. 

Then an unexpected gift from her late mother arrives — an antique music box containing a faded photograph and a torn page from the diary of Lizzie Siddal, the tragic Pre-Raphaelite muse and wife of Dante Gabriel Rossetti. 

Emilia follows the clues to Rome. To an abandoned villa left by a grandmother she never knew. To a collection of rare and beautiful books, hidden in a church crypt through the war . . . 

And a secret buried for generations. 

As Emilia pieces together her own past, Lizzieʼs diary reveals another story. Two Rossetti paintings. One genuine. One a flawless forgery. 

Separated by a century, the two mysteries are bound together. 

And when Emilia finally discovers the truth, she must decide whether some stories are meant to be preserved . . . or buried forever.

Purchase link

Goodreads

About the author

Marty Ambrose-McLaughlin is an award-winning, multi-published author of four historical mysteries set mostly in Italy, drawing on her background in nineteenth-century literature. Marty completed her M.Phil. at the University of York, England) and teaches creative writing at Florida Southwestern State College. She has also given numerous workshops in the U.S. and abroad on all aspects of creating/publishing a novel; her new novel, The Secret Diary of Rome will be published by Joffe Books in 2026.

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Weekend Cooking: Kate and Frida: a novel of friendship, food and books by Kim Fay

 

A couple of years ago I read Love and Saffron by Kim Fay for Cook the Books and I really enjoyed it! I was a bit surprised to learn that there was going to be a follow up book because the story felt complete, but I was also excited at the prospect. It has, however, taken me a while to get to it. I finally read it while I was on holidays recently.

One of the things I loved about Love and Saffron is that it was an epistolary novel where the story is told via letters between the two characters and the author uses that same technique in this book. Whilst the structure is the same, and there is a connection between the two books, they are distinct and you can read them separately. 

It is the early 1990s and Frida Rodriquez (daughter of Joan from Love and Saffron) is living in Paris. She has moved there with the hope that she might become a proper journalist, maybe even a war correspondent.

Kate works in a bookstore in Seattle. She used to dream of writing but these days she is content working in the store. One day, Kate receives a letter which contains an order for the book, The Face of War by Martha Gellhorn, which she duly sends off, but only after reading the book first. Little did either correspondent know, this is the beginning of a friendship that will become very important to them both. Both women are looking for their place in the world and this friendship helps them grow into the people they are destined to be.

As the letters go back and forth across the ocean, Kate and Frida share their lives, from the books they are reading, their favourite authors, their love lives, food and so much more. They encourage each other, and at times challenge each other when they feel the need. Kate is inspired by Frida's more adventurous spirit, and Frida relies on Kate's steadiness.

The reason why I read this book now is that it was one of the options for the 90s category on the Goodreads Summer Reading Challenge, and the 90s references were on point! I was in my early 20s in the early 90s and so many of the pop culture references took me right back to that time. I found myself thinking about what I was doing back then. In the mid 1990s I went overseas for the first time and then not long after ended up moving to the UK for 5 years after travelling for a couple of months. 

One of the most interesting and most emotive parts of this book is when Frida finally gets the chance to be a war reporter in the former Yugoslavia, an experience which impacts her very intensely. It also introduces her to some young people who show her their lives. In particular, two young women who should be enemies given that they have different religion and cultures, but are best friends. They are doing all they can to stay safe in war, which is difficult given that snipers don't care if they target innocent civilians, including children. She also witnesses the destruction of the library in Sarajevo, and Frida finds herself involved in the effort to save as many of the rare texts as she can.

I was travelling in Europe by 1994, and I have a very distinct memory of going to visit the concentration camp at Dachau. There I saw the photos of almost skeletal humans being held behind barbed wire fences. Then, shockingly, we went back to our hotels where we could watch the news and see very similar images coming out of the Balkan war. There was around 50 years difference but the similarities were intense. Did we learn nothing from WWII?

You might be wondering where is the food, given that I am posting about this in Weekend Cooking. I promise you that there is food all through this book, and at times, talking about food becomes the vehicle for telling the stories of the characters. At times, food is used as a way of connecting with people, particularly when Frida learns how to cook some of the Balkan dishes and sharing them with her displaced friends 

In addition, whilst some of the inspirations in the story comes from the WJD (War Journalist Dames like Martha Gelhorn), there are also references to prominent food writers such as M F K Fisher and Lawrie Colwin. The author also shares a number of recipes, including one for Bosanski Lonac which is a Balkan lunch box and Laurie Colwin's Tomato Pie. 

I was excited to see that there is going to be a third connected book and I already know that I will be reading that book. 

I am sharing this review with Foodies Read, hosted at Based on a True Story, with the Bookish Books challenge hosted at Bloggin Bout Books and with the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge which I host. 

Rating 4/5

Weekly meals

Saturday - Butter Chicken Pizza
Sunday - Spaghetti Bolognaise
Monday - Tomato and Paneer Curry
Tuesday - Leftovers
Wednesday - Takeaway
Thursday - Pork schnitzel, mash, broccoli, mushroom gravy
Friday - Beef and Broccoli Noodles

Blog Tour: The Little Porto Book Club by Rebecca Raisin

 

Viviane and her mother have recently returned to live in Porto after their life fell apart when her father died, and it was revealed that he had a secret family. However, since moving, Viviane hasn't really made any friends. In her mind, she doesn't really need to. She has her work as a copy editor, her books and her very annoying extended Portuguese family who keep on interfering in her business.

Viviane is a very ordered person. Her hair is cut perfectly, she dresses in a very specific outfit, she lives her life according to a very set schedule. However, her mother is worried about her isolation and so insists that she go out and meet people. Viviane's response made me smile broadly

"No, no, Viviane, I'm not sick. There's nothing to worry about, but I am getting on in age and would like you to make some friends who aren't fictional."

Secure in the knowledge that my mother's not about to leave this mortal coil, I'm happy to voice my displeasure at the ridiculous notion; being forced to make non-fictional friends. I don't see the point. Whodunnits provide all the necessary stimulus I need. The stakes are high, the detectives analytical, logical, using their great powers of deduction to land at a satisfying coda.

"I don't have time to make friends right now. I'm in the middle of a ten-book series and I've made a firm commitment to that each evening." I've read The Quill Chronicles multiple times. They're my comfort reads, as bolstering as a weighted blanket.

Despite her protestations, Viviane ends up agreeing that she will go to a cafe with the aim of having some social interactions, although Viviane has no intention of doing so. She finds a quiet little pastelaria  and settles in with her book, a coffee and a pastry before she is rudely interrupted by a handsome man named Tiago who happens to love the same author as she does! What a coincidence! 

As an aside, a lot of the initial interactions with Tiago made me smile. He has an allegry to almonds and so his opening gambit is to offer Viviane his pastry which it turns out could have almonds in it, and protests that he has his Epi-pen somewhere. My son has a tree nut allergy and I am sure he couldn't put his hands on his Epi-pen that is probably expired any way. Maybe he needs a Viviane to help keep him alive, which is the role that Viviane quickly assigns to herself for Tiago!

Viviane and Tiago agree to meet weekly, but the rules will be strict. Their time together will be spent reading...silently! Somehow though, more people begin joining in the silent bookclub, which of course, becomes anything but silent as the people get to know each other. There is Zephyr, the Australian Gen Z backpacker, and old Albert who clashes with her on just about everything, Thomas, who hides what he really likes to read inside the cover of a military history and Lucinda, who disappears after a few weeks with very clues as to who she was and what she might be doing. Together, the group must work out who Lucinda is and find her in order to hopefully prevent a terrible crime. The stakes are high!

I really enjoyed reading about Viviane and Tiago and their new friends. Viviane is very clever but does tend to be very determined which can sometimes lead to the clues that she has being misinterpreted. For all that she is observant, she also misses a lot of the clues about what is happening in her own world, both with Tiago and with her own mother.  I loved the way that the characters interconnected, and the bossy Portuguese mothers were a hoot!

I did enjoy the idea of a silent book club. As a result, I found myself contemplating whether it would work in our read on a theme book club. Half the time I have to wrangle them into talking about the books we read rather than just generally chatting about life, the universe and everything, so probably not!

Every time I read a Rebecca Raisin book, I enjoy the way that she writes about food, books and locations and this book has all of those same elements. There were so many delicious sounding Portuguese foods, and we were taken to some of the key tourist sites in Porto as we read the book. I do think that this book is one of her best. I loved the location, the characters, and I smiled my way through the whole book! This was a 5/5 read for me!

Now, if you will excuse me. I need to go and find a little pastelaria, eat a Portuguese custard tart, plan my trip to Portugal, and then pick up my book. Sshhhhhh! I'm reading!

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted at The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews and with the Bookish Books challenge hosted at Bloggin Bout Books.  This was a book that I nominated as one of my 20 Books of Winter and also counts for Aussie Author August. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy.  Be sure to check out other stops on the tour below too!

Rating 5/5

The Little Porto Book Club

In a city full of stories, can she write her own…

Introvert and self-described whodunnit enthusiast Viviane has never much believed in living life outside of the pages of a book. But when her interfering mother insists that Viviane needs some friends who aren’t fictional, she decides to head into the beautiful bustling streets of Porto in search of her community.

What better place to start than by reading her favourite mystery in the corner of a little-known café? But when one, then two, and then outrageously six other people decide to join her silent book club Viviane realises that she is firmly out of her depth. There’s Thomas, a middle-aged man hiding his love for romance novels, Lucinda, a chic sixty-something with a penchant for Christie, and then there’s Tiago, the man of every romance novelist’s dreams.

But when one of these newfound friends disappears from the book club without a word, will the community come together to find their fellow lost soul, and will Viviane find love along the way…?

Purchase Links

UK - https://amzn.eu/d/0an1mkon

US - https://a.co/d/09BBX9Ol

AUS - https://amzn.asia/d/0gWivcP7

CAN - https://a.co/d/06QBhgxV

 

About the author


Rebecca Raisin is an internationally bestselling and RNA awards winning romance writer from Perth, Australia. Her books are set in stunning locations around the world providing a touch of escapism for her readers and those who like to partake in a spot of armchair travel from the comfort of their own home. Rebecca writes quirky heroines who haven't figured it all out yet but are perfectly relatable, flaws and all. You'll find themes such as friendship, love, new beginnings, food, wine and travel. She's known for writing books for book lovers.

Social Media Links –

https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaRaisinAuthor

www.twitter.com/jaxandwillsmum

https://www.instagram.com/rebeccaraisinwrites2/

Rebecca Raisin’s Exclusive Readers | Facebook



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Sunday Salon: Six in Six

I haven't done Six in Six before but I saw it over at Words and Peace and I decided to join in! I thought it would also be a good way to do a roundup of the various challenges that I am doing this year. Along the way I will mention 7 out of the 8 books that I have given 5/5 to so far this year! I just couldn't make the last one fit into any of these challenges. That book is First Time Caller by B K Borison.  

There is one challenge that I haven't included in this list as I really wanted to have a category for Australia authors and that is the New Release Challenge hosted by The Chocolate Lady's Book Review Blog. Of the 77 books I have read so far this year, 30 have counted for the New Release Challenges. Foodies Read (hosted at Based on a True Story) is probably not technically a challenge, but I do enjoy linking up whenever I read a foodie book!

6 Historical Fiction Books - 28 books read 

The Goldsmith's Wife by Jean Plaidy, (5/5) - mini review

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters (5/5) - mini review

The Silent Resistance by Anna Normann (5/5) - review

The Strawberry House by Rachel Burton - Also New Release Challenge - review

Seascraper by Benjamin Wood

The King's Jewel by Elizabeth Chadwick

6 Bookish Books - 10 Books read

The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson (5/5) - Also Historical Fiction Reading challenge - review

The Secret Society of Librarians by Kate Thompson (5/5) - Also Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

The Croatian Island Library by Eva Glyn - Also New Release Challenge - review

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page

The Seaside Book Club by Helen Rolfe - review

6 Books in Translation - 11 books read

Us Against You by Fredrik Backman (5/5)

Dinner at the Night Library by Hika Harada - Also Foodies Read and Bookish Books - review

The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi de Lampedusa - Also Historical Fiction - review

We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida - mini review

Piglettes by Clementine Beauvais - Also Foodie Reads - review 

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy - Also Historical Fiction -  thoughts

6 Speccie Fiction Challenge - 7 books read

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Gate to Kagoshima by Poppy Kuroki - Also Historical Fiction - review

The Astral Library by Kate Quinn - Also Bookish Books - mini review

The Seven Rings by Nora Roberts

We'll Prescribe You Another Cat by Syou Ishida - Also Books in Translation - mini review

6 Australian Books - 16 books read

In a Paris Fashion by Sophie Beaumont (5/5) - review

Past the Shallows by Favel Pavrett - Also Historical Fiction - mini review

Careful He Might Hear You by Sumner Locke Elliott - Also Historical Fiction - review

The Palace of Lost Virtue by Anthea Hodgson - Also Historical Fiction -  review

Don't Brake My Heart by Leonie Mack - review

The Model Murder by Amanda Hampson - Also Historical Fiction

6 Foodie Reads - 9 books read

The Language of Food by Annabel Abbs - Also Historical Fiction - review

A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang by lee Onhwa - also Books in Translation and Speccie Fiction - review

Bite by Bite: Nourishments and Jamborees by Aimee Nezhukumatathil - review

The Boulangerie on the Corner by Susan Buchanan - Also New Release challenge - review

Hot Chocolate on Thursday by Michiko Aoyama - Also Books in Translation - review

Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J Ryan Stradal 

So there's my Six in Six for this year! And an update on my challenges at the same time.

I am sharing this with Sunday Salon hosted at Readerbuzz and A Good Book and a Cup of Tea hosted at Hopewell's Library.

Blog Tour: The Book Lover's Bucket List by Hannah Claire

 

Do you have a book related bucket list?

Librarian Gabriella Brookes has moved back to her childhood home after a bad break up and she is missing her dog badly. Given that she is now living with her brother, it is a bit cosy but at least she has somewhere to go. 

Enter Zach Osborne, her brother Dan's best friend Zach Osborne turns up out of the blue with the idea to throw a surprise birthday party for Dan! Zach has lived in London for years but he has some time on his hands and so he has come home for a couple of months before he moves overseas. Whilst Gabby is happy to see him, it is a bit awkward because Zach has been the subject of her biggest crush!

One day, Gabby finds a list that she wrote when she was very young. It is a list of bookish things that she would like to do ranging from "Find a magical land at the back of a wardrobe" to "visit a secret library" and "receive a love letter." Some of the things on the list are achievable but there are others that probably aren't.

The last thing she expects is for Zach to say that he wants to help her achieve the items on her list. And then he puts together his own non-bookish list and suggests that they can work together on their lists. Suddenly Zach and Gabby are spending a lot of time together and all those feelings come to the fore again, Given that Zach is only in town for a short time, this can only lead to more emotional heartbreak again.

I loved that Zach was very quickly invested in helping Gabby cross off the items on her list. And it was interesting to see his list, which also had the effect of taking Gabby out of her comfort zone! And I loved how she stepped up. Zach also had to open up about his challenging upbringing but he also needs to work out whether the things that have kept him away from his home town for so long are still enough to keep him away.

There was also a fun group of secondary characters who frequent the library, and especially Mr Cooper. I want to visit his house! Gabby's confidence had been dented, but the people around her were so supportive of her. 

Of course, you can't read a book about a bookish bucket list without thinking about something similar. I am not sure that I have specifically written a bookish bucket list, but my reading has inspired me to have some really great experiences including visiting St Chappelle in Paris, visiting Mont St Michel, visiting Alberobello in Puglia amongst others. 

I hadn't read Hannah Claire before. It's always nice to find a new author. It appears that this is the first book in a series, and I am here for the next book! In the mean time, I am going to search out Hannah Claire's previous book.

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted at The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews and it counts for the Bookish Books Challenge hosted at Bloggin' Bout Books.. Thanks to the publisher and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy. Be sure to check out other stops on the tour below too!

Rating 4/5

About the book

The Book Lover’s Bucket List

A bucket list to change her life.

Gabriella Brookes has spent years quietly loving Zach Osborne, knowing he only sees her as his best friend’s bookish little sister. He’s charming, successful, and only back in their Derbyshire village for the summer before his next big move.

When Gabby stumbles across her long-forgotten teenage bucket list, Zach proposes a deal: together, they’ll tick off her book-inspired challenges, if she helps him complete a few fun tasks of his own.

What starts as a perfectly sensible plan quickly turns into something far more complicated, when real life refuses to stay neatly tucked between the pages.

But as Zach’s past resurfaces and his future pulls him away, Gabby is forced to face a harder truth: dreams don’t come true if you only ever read about them.

Ticking off the challenges was meant to be easy.
Admitting what your heart wants is the real risk.

A cosy, small-town romantic comedy about courage, love, and rewriting your own ending.

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GX33FZ34

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX33FZ34

About the Author 

Hannah has always been a bookworm, loving nothing more than escaping into fictional worlds, and can't walk past a bookshop without adding to her already-overflowing To Be Read shelves. She writes contemporary romantic novels set against the beautiful landscape of the Peak District in Derbyshire, close to where she lives.

A firm believer in the power of love stories to offer comfort and escape, Hannah writes books that celebrate connection, hope, and the magic of second chances — stories designed to bring a little joy into busy lives.

She lives with her husband, their three children, two cats, and one very bouncy dog who still hasn't worked out that squirrels generally don't want to be her friends.

Hannah loves long sunny days spent outdoors and rainy afternoons spent indoors — ideally under a cosy blanket with a good book. Her favourite things include sparkly nail varnish, candles, bubble baths, and chocolate, and she remains convinced that there is no such thing as too many notebooks.

 

Social Media Links – @hannahclairewriter

Facebook and Instagram

The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson

 

In 1942, Bethnal Green library in London was destroyed by a German bomb. The head librarian is killed and so children's librarian Clara Button starts a library in the tunnels of the nearby Tube station which is being used as a refuge from the nightly bombing raids for thousands of locals. Ably assisted by her best friend Ruby Munros, the library provides many valuable services to the community. They provide books to the local factory girls, they do children's story time, start a book club for the many women who otherwise wouldn't have any personal time and so much more. 

Both Clara and Ruby have strong back stories. Clara is a widow whose mother and mother in law both dislike that she is working in the library. They both believe that she should be at home grieving her husband even though he has been dead for quite some time.  Ruby has also suffered significant loss. She lost her older sister in a terrible tragedy and she blames herself. To numb the pain she drinks a lot, and parties hard, masking how much she is hurting underneath her brash exterior.. 

Clara clashes against her boss, the grandly named Mr Pinkerton-Smythe, who seems to think that libraries should only be available to the well to do, that only literature with a capital L should be available to readers. What libraries should absolutely not do is provide women with information or books that encourage them to take their own lives into their hands and decide things like they don't want any more children or that they don't have to stay in violent marriages. He does everything in his power to close Clara's version of the library down.

I loved the part of the book where the library is donated multiple copies of Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor. It is a book that I have read a couple of times back in my late teens initially and it is an absolute romp.  Amber is resourceful and ambitious, will do what it takes to get what she wants. What a woman! I am tempted to find it and read it again. I am pretty sure I still have a copy on my shelves somewhere.

I love a good WWII historical fiction novel, and this is undoubtedly one of the better ones out there. What makes it even more interesting is that it is based on little known true life events. There really was a library in the rail tunnels under Bethnal Green station. Unfortunately, the terrible tragedy which shaped Ruby's life so much is also based on a tragic, real life event. 

I really enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter which come from real life librarians, including contemporary librarians. From the authors notes, it is clear that she is passionate about libraries and has been involved in some battles to save local libraries when the politicians decide to cut back services.

Having now read this book and The Wartime Book Club I can now declare myself a Kate Thompson fan. While she keeps writing about libraries I will keep reading the book. I am now on the waitlist for her latest book from my library!

This was a 5/5 read for me and I highly recommend it.

I am sharing this review with British Isles Friday hosted at Joy's Book Blog, Bookish Books Challenge hosted at Bloggin' Bout Books and the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge which I host here.

The Seaside Book Club by Helen Rolfe

 

LIke many of us I am a sucker for a book about books. As soon as I saw this title I knew I needed to read it, particularly given that I know that I enjoy Helen Rolfe's writing.

The centre of this book is an unusual international book club. The members of the club are mainly in the UK and Australia. Given the time difference that means that, for the UK members, the meetings occur in the middle of the night. As someone who is often awake in the middle of the night this does sound appealing, although, to be fair, I never actually get out of bed then. I usually play games or red.

Howard loves meeting online with other book lovers from across the world. He is one of the stalwarts of the group, ever present, and often providing a sounding board to the other members. He loves books so much that he bought a bookshop when he retired. Now, he is fighting off the developers for as long as he can, to keep his bookshop dream alive

Margot attends the midnight book club in secret. Her controlling husband sleeps very heavily and she can sneak into another room and talk freely with the other members. If he had any idea of her activities, she knows he would absolutely put a stop to it. She does not however share her struggles with her friends, not even when she decides that she has had enough and secretly makes plans to leave.

The leader, for want of a better word, is Faye. She inherited the book club from her aunt and she is determined to keep it running, despite the fact that people she counted as true friends are leaving thanks to a huge scandal involving her twin sister. After her fiancé breaks off their engagement over the phone, she decides to join her father in the UK, where she can't be mistaken for her sister. She does not tell the group that she is in the UK, or that her engagement is off.

When Howard uncharacteristically misses a couple of meetings, Faye and Margot decide independently to try and find out what is going on. They both end up staying in picturesque Dorset and they are disheartened to find Howard's beloved bookshop closed. What is going on?

Soon, secrets are being revealed, bonds being strengthened and new friendships developing as everyone comes together, and for some of the group brings new beginnings. 

I really enjoyed the conversations about books where everyone had the freedom to share their thoughts even when there are differences of opinion. I also appreciate seeing where people who have met online are able to come together as friends in real life as well. I have a number of online friends that I have met in person thanks to our mutual love of books.

This was a lovely comforting bookish read. It's the kind of read that I meet right now given how intense work is for me. It was warm and uplifting, despite some of the difficult subjects that are explored through the various characters.

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted at Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews,  Bookish Books Challenge hosted at Bloggin' Bout Books and British Isles Friday hosted at Joy's Book Blog. Thanks to Netgally and the publisher for this review copy.

Rating 4/5

Blog Tour : New Chapters on the French Riviera by Jennifer Bohnet

Since his wife died 9 months ago, chef Guy Lyon has shut himself away from the world. He has closed down their food and boutique hotel business in the villa they owned, Villa Celestia and refuses to see anyone. It’s not just grief though. Guy doesn’t really know why his wife was in the taxi that day.

Sandy and her husband Romain run retreats. They hire lovely villa’s, provide themed events and good food and let groups of people with shared interests come together and thrive. When the owners of the villa that they had rented for an upcoming writers retreat pulls out at the last minute, they only have two options. First is to cancel the retreat. The second is to see if Guy will let them use Villa Celestia. Originally he is set against the idea but he finally agrees on one condition. He will cook simple food (not the fancy food he is known for) and he will stay in the background.

The attendees are a varied bunch. There is successful novels Liz James who is trying to find her voice again after going through a difficult divorce, there is Lorraine a successful self published author who wrote romantasy before it was a thing, Isobel is polishing her book, Helena and Mandy are friends who want to write a book and don’t know where to start. Finally there is Becky, instagrammer, influencer and wannabe fiction author

Helena has been in love with her childhood friend, Teddy, for years, but they have only just gotten together and she hasn’t told anyone yet, especially not her mother and brother. She does feel a bit guilty going on the retreat as it will be the first time in years their mother won’t be able to celebrate their birthdays today with either one of her children.

When her brother surprises her with a visit from their mother, it sets in chain a series of events which is life-changing for several people in the story. This was a lovely part of the story for me.

There were some interesting dynamics at play. For example, Becky was busy living her best Insta life and often left the group to go and do other things. She also thought she would be able to write a best seller but just working with AI

Several of our characters start to see life differently thanks to spending their time at the writing retreat including Guy, Sandy, Liz and Helena and her family.

This was once again an enjoyable visit to France through the eyes and pen of Jennifer Bohnet.

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted at The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews and Bookish Books challenge hosted at Blogging ‘Bout Books. Thanks to the publisher and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy. Be sure to check out other stops on the tour below too!

Can a grieving chef and a group of writers find their own happy endings?

Eight months after his wife Jacqueline died in a tragic car accident, Michelin stared chef and proprietor of Villa Celestia, Guy Lyon’s life has been in freefall. Consumed by grief and plagued by questions as to why she was in a taxi that fateful day, the doors to Villa Celestia have remained closed.

When a good friend, Sandy Thoreau, asks to rent the villa on the French Riviera for a fortnight to hold a women’s writers retreat after being let down, Guy reluctantly agrees.

All the women at the retreat are looking forward to being inspired. Helena and her friend Mandy are writing debut novels, Isobel is editing a cosy crime story, Liz is desperate to kickstart a new book, self-published author Lorraine is looking for advice and Becky, well Becky is a law unto herself.

Over the course of the next fortnight, two of these women will change the course of Guy’s life forever and new chapters - hopefully with happy endings - will begin for all of them.

The perfect tonic and escapist read to the South of France full of warmth and second chances.

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/NewChaptersontheFrench

About the Author

Jennifer Bohnet is the bestselling author of over 14 women's fiction titles, including Villa of Sun and Secrets and A Riviera Retreat. She is originally from the West Country but now lives in the wilds of rural Brittany, France.

Social Media Links –

Facebook: @jenniewriter1

Twitter: @jenniewriter

Instagram: @jenniewriter

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JenniferBohnetnewsletter


Bookbub profile: @jenniebohnet

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Books

Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week the theme is Books for Armchair Travelers (Submitted by Laurie C @ Bay State Reader’s Advisory). 

I don't often save quotes so I am going to do a twist on the topic this week. This year is my third year of participating in the Bookish Books Reading Challenge hosted at Bloggin' 'Bout Books. For my TTT post this week I am going to share the last ten bookish books I read! I think books about books is something that most of us love!

Soyangri Book Kitchen by Kim Jee Hyde - This is a Korean book about a young woman who opens a bookshop and kitchen out in the country. 

The Croatian Island Library by Eva Glyn - A trio of characters sails from island to island in Croatia to share library books. (my review)

Dinner at the Night Library by Hika Harada - Another book that combines food and books! This is a Japanese story about a strange library which holds the books that writers loved. (my review)

Everyone on This Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson - What happens when multiple crime authors get on a train for a crime writers festival, but less people make it to the end of the line. (my review)

The Wartime Bookclub by Kate Thompson - How a Channel Island community comes together through the love of books! (my review)

The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan - When a woman is asked to find one particular item in a falling down stately home in the Scottish highlands at Christmas time, what could go wrong?

I Give You My Body...How I Write Sex Scenes by Diana Gabaldon - This was a very short audio book about writing sex scenes and featuring a lot of quotes from her books as example.

Winter Nights at the Bay Bookshop by Jessica Redland - Featuring a gorgeous sounding small town bookstore at Christmas. (my review)

The Cruise Club by Caroline James - An author with writer's block goes on a cruise where one of her author heroes is giving writing lectures. (my review)

The Storytellers by Sue Heath - A group of very different people come together at a local library with the aim of writing a short story competition entry together! (my review)

Blog Tour: The Croatian Island Library by Eva Glyn (includes giveaway)

If you were to ask me what my husband's retirement dream would be, it would be to buy a boat and sail around Australia for as long as it takes. I am not sure how long I would last on such a trip, but if you could combine it with doing something with books, I could make the distance.

I said yes to this simply based on the fact that I have really enjoyed the book I have previously read from her, and that will also be my practice going forward. This is the first time I have read one of her books set wholly in Croatia but I do have The Dubrovnik Book Club on my Kindle to read at some point.

When Ana Meštrović recieves an inheritance from her grandfather, she uses it to buy a catamaran which she has been using to run a charter business. She needs to diversify if she is going to keep her business running successfully enough to not need to take her boat and return to be part of the family business. She loves the sea and her independence.

When an opportunity comes up to run a pilot for a library project, Ana is determined to make it work. The idea is that she will sail through the Croatian islands. At each stop, there will be a library set up where hopefully the local population will come and borrow all the books and then return them the following week. If this pilot program is a success then Ana might be able to secure the contract, and her livelihood and independence, for the next few years.

In order to run the operation effectively, Ana employs a young woman named Natali as a general deckhand/boat mechanic/Girl Friday and former teacher Lloyd as the librarian. Also along for the ride is Natali's dog Obi. Ana isn't sure that she is equipped to be the leader of these people, and it can get complicated when you not only work with these people but you also share a very confined living space.

Natali is pretty quiet, only talking to her dog most of the time. She loves working on boats but she is self taught with no qualifications and limited schooling. She works low pay jobs to make ends meet and usually it is hard to get a job on a boat because of Obi. She is therefore super keen to please, going above and beyond. However, she does find it difficult to engage with her co-workers, always believing that she isn't as clever as them, a message that has been reinforced over and over again over the years by her mother. 

 Lloyd is a widower who is trying to get on with life following the death of his wife. He has been encouraged by his daughter to make a new start and go on and adventure. He has had to leave his job as a teacher but he is loving feeling useful again. 

Things start off slowly, but they are slowly beginning to build when one of the crew's past catches up with him.  Lloyd hadn't told Ana that he had even been to the country before. When he was a young man he had worked for a time on an island where he had met and fallen madly in love with a young woman. But it was 1991, and the Croatian war was on the verge of beginning and so Lloyd had to leave in a hurry, leaving behind his love. 

I said yes to this simply based on the fact that I really enjoyed the book I have previously read from her, and that will also be my practice going forward, which was The Santorini Writing Retreat (my review). This is the first time I have read one of her books set wholly in Croatia but I do have The Dubrovnik Book Club on my Kindle to read at some point.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the way that the three crew members gradually opened up to each other, becoming almost like family. I really enjoyed how each of them were able to take control of their own lives, making decisions about what their future would look like, regardless of what people around them might think. And I loved seeing Natali fall in love with books and also realise that she could do more with her life and have more security if she was happy to take some chances. 

I haven't even mentioned the islands yet. I read this book in the plane on the way to Perth over the weekend and I was transported from inside a very crowded plane to the waters of the islands in Croatia with their history, culture, food, and yes, with the added bonus of books! There were some interesting characters who impacted our main characters in sometimes very touching ways.

If you are looking for a bookish books that takes you to new parts of the world through the pages, then consider reading this one!

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted at The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews and with the Bookish Books Challenge hosted at Bloggin' Bout Books. Thanks to the publisher, Rachel's Random Resources and Netgalley for the review copy. Check out the other stops on the blog tour as well!

Rating 4/5

About the book

The Croatian Island Library

Where books are borrowed, and friendships are forged…

When her beloved grandfather dies, Ana Meštrović buys a catamaran in his memory, which she names Dida Krila – Grandad’s Wings.

For the summer months, it will be transformed into a travelling library, delivering books to children living across the Croatian islands.

Joined by crew members Natali, a young mechanic afraid of her own shadow, and Lloyd, an older widower who needs a fresh start, the newly-formed trio all have their own reasons for needing the floating library to be a success.

Embarking on an adventure that will change them for good, they each discover that a new chapter is only a boat ride away…

Purchase - https://mybook.to/CroatianIslandLibrary

About the Author

Eva Glyn writes escapist relationship-driven fiction with a kernel of truth at its heart. She loves to travel and finds inspiration in beautiful places and the stories they hide.

Set mainly in Croatia, her contemporary stories are more about friendship than romance, the coming together of people through shared interests, and the opportunity to make fresh starts in their lives. A love of books is a common theme too, so her publisher, One More Chapter, has christened them the Bookish Escapes collection which currently includes The Dubrovnik Book Club, and The Santorini Writing Retreat, with The Croatian Island Library to be published in January 2026.

In addition Eva has written two Second World War dual timeline romances, An Island of Secrets and The Collaborator’s Daughter, and a new beginnings novel entitled The Olive Grove. All are set in Croatian, a country she loves.

Although she considers herself Welsh, Eva lives in Cornwall with the man she met and fell in love with more than thirty years ago. She also writes as Jane Cable.



Social Media Links –

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

Twitter: @JaneCable

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

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/eva-glyn



Giveaway To Win a paperback copy of The Croatian Island Library (Open to UK & Ireland Only)

*Terms and Conditions –UK & Ireland entries welcome. Please enter using the Gleam box below. The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

Win a paperback copy of The Croatian Island Library (Open to UK & Ireland Only)

This week

I'm reading

This week I finished reading Soyangri Book Kitchen by Kim Jee Hye (translated by Shanna Tan). This was a really cute Korean read, which is about a woman who starts a book kitchen and it tells the story of her guests and the people who end up around her. It is a book about books and about food, which is right in my wheelhouse, and there were some really nice quotes, including this one about why the owner named it a book kitchen

Even landing on the name 'Soyangri Book Kitchen' had taken Yoojin two whole weeks. She wanted a name befitting a place filled with books. Drawing inspiration from the idea that every book has a unique flavour that would appeal differently to its readers, she hoped that by naming the shop a book kitchen, it would become a space where people could enjoy some reading time and rest their weary hearts. Like how food comforts the soul, she hoped, too, that the delicious smell of paper and books would make her guests feel comfortable enough to shed the burden of bottled-up feelings, and to embrace some moments of solace and warmth.

I read The Croatian Island Library by Eva Glyn on the plane to Perth, and I am planning to finish The Arctic Cruise by Caroline James on the plane home. I am due to post reviews of both of those on Wednesday so the pressure is on!

I finished listening to Bite by Bite by Aimee Nezhukumatathi which is the current selection for Cook the Books. What an enjoyable listening experience this was. My review for this one will be up in a couple of weeks.

I then started listening to The Seven Rings by Nora Roberts, which is the third book in The Lost Brides series. 

I was meant to do my 2025 stats last week but I didn't get it done, so that will have to be next week. I normally try to at least be working on my big posts the week before but I ran out of time this week, and this week looks like it is going to be pretty busy too!

I'm watching


Not much this week!

Life

We did a quick trip to Perth this week to watch the first SailGP race of the season and the first one to be run is Perth! The weather was perfect, the racing was amazing and it was an all round good weekend!

On the first day we sat in the Beach club which was very relaxed. The second day we sat in the grandstands. The view was amazing but it was so windy that I ended up not being able to wear my hat for very long in case it flew off! There are at least 3 more years for the race to be held in Perth and we will definitely be back for at least one of those, or maybe all of them. We'll see. 

 We stayed with my auntie, so we got to see family, eat some great food and catch up!


Posts from the last week


Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the First Half of 2026
Everyone on this Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson
Dinner at the Night Library by Hika Hirada

Weekend Cooking: Japanese Chicken Curry 





I've linked this post to It's Monday, what are you reading? as hosted by Book Date, Sunday Salon hosted at Readerbuzz and the Good Book and a Cup of Tea link up hosted at Boondock Ramblings