This week....

 I'm reading

This week was a pretty good reading week! I finally caught up on my War and Peace readalong and I finished a few other books too!

Firstly, I finished reading Not My Greek Wedding by Sue Roberts. There were some good parts to this book but it wasn't my favourite. My review is here.

I then picked up The Storytellers by Sue Heath which was one of my most anticipated upcoming new releases, and for good reason! I loved it. I have read both books that have been released under the Sue Heath name and loved them both! Now I just have to work out when I can post the review and wait for the next Sue Heath book. 

I started reading Half Truth by Nadia Mahjouri last week and was glad to finish it this week! I am planning to share my review of this one this week some time.

I also read French Rhapsody by Antoine Laurain. I will be posting about this during Paris in July.

Those last three books were all on my Twenty Books of Winter list so I am making some progress there!

Finally, I started and finished The Girl from Normandy by Rachel Sweasey which I am due to review at the end of this week. 

I'm watching


I started watching a TV series called Mixtape, which is based on a book of the same name which I read and reviewed a while ago. I felt a connection with the book as I had lived in both Adelaide and Sheffield which is where it was set. They have changed the Australian setting to Sydney for the TV series. I will keep watching and listening to the music of the era! Here's the trailer:

I also watched the first three episodes of Gary Barlow Food and Wine Tour of Australia. Gary is the  lead singer of Take That and while they were touring last year he was also filming this show. He has famous friends (for example Tim Minchin and Danni Minogue) join him as he explores a particular region in Australia. I do always enjoy seeing how other people view Australia.

While I am waiting for new episodes of the Australian series, I am also watching his Wine Tour of South Africa. The first episode was set near Cape Town and featured some areas that we visited a few years ago!

We binge watched the second season of Ted Lasso this week. I suspect we will probably watch season 3 this week. 

Life


After picking up some germs last week, I have still been sick all of this week, so it has been a very quiet week. I suspect it might be the same this week.

Posts from the last week

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on My Winter 2025 to Read List
Blog Tour: The Island of Hope and Dreams by Kate Frost
Head over Wheels by Leonie Mack 
Blog Tour: Not My Greek Wedding by Sue Roberts

Weekend Cooking: Everything is Indian by Justin Narayan

Spell the Month in Books: June




I've linked this post to It's Monday, what are you reading? as hosted by Book Date and Sunday Salon hosted at Readerbuzz

Blog Tour: Not My Greek Wedding by Sue Roberts

 

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for British author Sue Roberts' latest book Not My Greek Wedding. Firstly, how lovely is that cover! Takes me straight to Greece before I have even opened the book!

When Mia is invited to her friend Tasha's destination wedding in Santorini, she is glad that it comes with the offer of paid accommodation. She takes her work friend Lulu as her plus one, seeing it as Lulu's chance to live a little and look out for herself rather than always focussing on her almost adult children, who do seem to be taking advantage of her at times. There she meets Tasha's lovely aunts, Irene and Patsy, who were a lot of fun and very relatable to me, as well as a few of the other guests!

Mia is a wannabe social media influencer. She has a pretty big following now but she isn't quite there in terms of the big time. She gets invited to some local special events at home, and takes every opportunity to make her life look a little more glamourous than it might actually be. The reality is that she has just lost her job working in a call centre and she lives at home with her parents. 

The blurb is a bit misleading and feels like maybe the book changed after the blurb was written.  It makes it sound as though Mia was going to end up with Christos. I was reading the book and thinking how on earth is this going to work as he is not the kind of guy you would think would be part of a happily ever after scenario. And maybe, without Mia realising that there are other opportunities for her, she might have ended up with Christos for a brief holiday romance or perhaps a bit longer. Fortunately, Mia began to see that she could be more and do more and do better when it came to gorgeous Greek men. 

That might sound a bit dismissive but I don't really mean it to. Mia seems to be a genuinely caring person who looks out for her friends like Lulu and to a certain extend Tasha (she did spend a lot of the book off the page), who build relationships with people she cares about like Tasha's aunts, and who isn't brash about her own talents, although she could probably be more confident in her own abilities such as her singing.

The actual MMC doesn't even appear until nearly half way through the book. Fortunately, he was much better than Christos and I guessed their connection pretty easily. I did like how Andreas saw that there was more to Mia than just her good looks!

I think the idea of exploring social media was a good one. It gave Mia reason to visit some amazing places on the island and eat some amazing sounding food, and I was glad to be an armchair traveller with her! It was, however, a bit repetitive at times, especially at the beginning of the book with so many mentions of needing to upload content and how many likes she had received. If I received 1000 likes on a post I would be wondering what on earth happened! LOL. 

This was a mixed bag for me. There were things I liked a lot, and other things I did not enjoy as much, but in terms of taking me away from a cold Melbourne winter, it took me to the warm blue waters of Santorini.  

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted at The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews. Be sure to check out other stops on the tour shown below. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Bookouture Books-On-Tour for the review copy. 

Rating 3/5

About the Book :

She might not be the bride, but could this wedding be the start of her perfect future?

Mia is reeling from a breakup with her fiancé. And now her best friend Tasha is getting married on the beautiful Greek island of Santorini – where Mia once planned on having her own wedding.

Arriving at the resort, Mia’s breath catches at the sight of the sun-soaked terrace and vases overflowing with pink and white blooms. And with guests like local hunk, Christos, walking around like statues of Greek gods come to life, there’s even more to celebrate… so Mia promises to put her own heartache aside and make sure everything is perfect for Tasha – especially as she’s the Maid of Honour!

But with embarrassing speeches, champagne corks popping everywhere, and guests getting caught up in the energetic Greek dancing, there are too many problems to tackle alone. If she opens her heart, can Mia and Christos make sure the day runs smoothly, and could she even start her own new love story in Greece?

This absolutely gorgeous and unputdownable beach read is perfect for fans of Kate Frost, Mandy Baggot and Holly Martin. Pack your bags and get ready to be swept away to the stunning beaches of Greece!

About the Author :


Sue Roberts lives in Lancashire with her long term partner Derek and has had a lifelong love of writing, encouraged by winning a school writing competition at the age of 11.

She always assumed that ‘one day’ she would write a book, always having a busy household and a job, the idea remained firmly on the back burner but never forgotten.

The inspiration for her first novel came to her on a holiday to a Greek village. Her daughters had left home and suddenly the time had come to write that book!

Social Media Links

https://www.instagram.com/suerobertsauthor/
https://twitter.com/suerobertsautho

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Sue Roberts here: https://www.bookouture.com/sue-roberts



Buy Link:
Amazon: https://geni.us/B0F4KD2C6Bsocial


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

Top Ten Tuesday: Christmas reads!

Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's theme is Books I Hope Santa Brings/Bookish Wishes. I don't tend to ask or receive books as gifts, with the notable exception of cookbooks. So, here are the ten Christmas books I have read so far this year. I am currently reading another two as well!

Actually, I am going to start with a bonus book! Last night I read this book to my nephew. My sister, her husband and my husband were all in the room as well, so it was like a group readalong.

And now on for the actual top ten!

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - I can't believe I haven't read this until now!

The Silver Haired Sisterhood by Judy Leigh - Christmas on the Isle of Skye sound great. (My review)

A Christmas Surprise in Pelican Crossing by Maggie Christensen - It's so nice to read a Christmas novel set in Australia! (My review)

The Christmas Book Hunt by Jenny Colgan - A fun short story! Must read more Jenny Colgan (My review)

A Skye Full of Stars by Sue Moorcroft - Yes, this is another Christmas novel set on the Isle of Skye. (My review)

Someone Like You by Sandy Barker - This one was set in both London and Seattle, which I loved! (My review)

A Recipe For Christmas by Jo Thomas - This one had it all! Chocolate, grumpy hero, and snow in Switzerland! (My review)

The Village Christmas Party by Sue Roberts - What happens when the village senior Christmas lunch is booked at the same time as a birthday party for a 5 year old. (My review)

One Winter at the French Chalet by Mandy Baggot - When a journalist is sent to a village in the French Alps to cover a story about a pregnant reindeer and a man named Wolf, Christmas magic ensues. (My review)

Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel by Rebecca Raisin - Christmas in Paris! Yes please. (My review)

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

Blog Tour: The Village Christmas Party by Sue Roberts

 

We have quite a few birthdays towards the end of September and beginning of October, and it is only after we get past those that I start to think about Christmas. I have a feeling that Lauren, the main character from this book would be horrified that I leave it that late. After all, she has lists for her lists and she needs them as she is very actively involved in her local community.

Every year Lauren is one of the hosts for a Christmas party at the local hall. Anyone who would otherwise be at home by themselves is invited for a lovely Christmas roast with all the trimmings and some good company. 

 

Everything is going to plan for this year, until she finds out that there is an issue with the booking, and now the hall is booked for a seven year olds birthday party. Kian, the dad, is insistent that the birthday party must go ahead in the hall, and Lauren is equally adamant that she has the right to use the hall. It soon becomes clear that the only option is to share so there is a hall full of pensioners and 7 year olds. What could go wrong? And can Lauren resist the handsome Kian?

We like a good list but we don't let them rule our lives like Lauren does at the beginning of the book, and she seems to be finding it exhausting as well. Little by little Lauren is becoming a little less rigid, a little more spontaneous.

While I like the story, it was a little simpler than some of the other books I have read recently. There's a couple of subplots that help but mostly I was left looking for more from the writing. Things picked up in the second half of the book.

When I was offered this book I jumped at the opportunity because I thought I had read Sue Thomas before and the cover is super cute. When I was reading the book, I found myself wondering if I had actually done so.  It turns out I own at least 5 books by Sue Roberts, so there is no doubt that I have thought she sounds like my kind of author. At least I know now what to expect when I do get to read one of those books.

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted by The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews.  Be sure to check out other stops on the tour shown below. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Books on Tour for the review copy.

Rating 3.5/5

About the Book

The smell of mulled wine fills the air as the villagers listen to carollers singing. Everyone in town is ready for the big day. But Lauren only has hours to get the community Christmas party back on track…

Thirty-four-year-old Lauren has a list for everything, especially Christmas. With her presents bought months in advance, the last thing on her checklist is the charity party she runs every year. It has to be perfect – she has seen how much the event means to the older villagers who would be alone for the holidays otherwise.

Everything is going smoothly as the local church bells ring. Until handsome Kian walks in, claiming he has the little village hall booked for his young daughter’s birthday party. Lauren nearly falls off the ladder she is using to hang fairy lights. There’s no way this is happening. Not when she’d triple-checked every detail…

As Lauren frantically tries to find another option, Kian’s insistence that she should just “relax” isn’t helping her stay merry and bright. There’s only one way to make this a festive party to remember. She has to try and work with Kian.

They clash over every detail, but as their helpers arrive, Kian’s kind and welcoming nature soothes Lauren’s shaken nerves. And his gorgeous blue eyes make her wish she’d put the mistletoe out. Until Kian mysteriously disappears…

And Lauren is left alone to keep the excitable children from running into the flaming Christmas pudding the older guests love every year. Will Kian’s chilled approach cool the celebrations? Or can Lauren and Kian put aside their differences and save the day once more?

This completely addictive and gorgeous festive romance is perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Tracy Rees and Heidi Swain. You will not be able to put this down once it wraps you up in its warmth and charm!

About the Author


Sue Roberts lives in Lancashire with her long term partner Derek and has had a lifelong love of writing, encouraged by winning a school writing competition at the age of 11.

She always assumed that ‘one day’ she would write a book, always having a busy household and a job, the idea remained firmly on the back burner but never forgotten.

The inspiration for her first novel came to her on a holiday to a Greek village. Her daughters had left home and suddenly the time had come to write that book!


Social Media Links

https://www.instagram.com/suerobertsauthor/
https://twitter.com/suerobertsautho



Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Sue Roberts here: https://www.bookouture.com/sue-roberts




Buy Link:
Amazon: https://geni.us/B0DDY3P3DNsocial


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

Top Ten Tuesday - Last Ten Books I 1-clicked

 

 

Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week the theme is Most Recent Additions to My Book Collection. I have limited my list to the last 10 books I 1-clicked.

The Proxy Bride by Zoe Boccabella - This book tells the story of Italian women who were married by proxy and then sent to Australia where they met the man they were already married to. It sounds really interesting.

The Beachside Christmas by Karen Clarke - One of the many Christmas books I 1 clicked recently.

Christmas at Red Robin Cottage by Sue Roberts - Oh look, another Christmas book!

Christmas in Paris by Tilly Tennant - And yes, another!

All's Fair in Love and Chocolate and You Had Me at Chocolate by Amy Andrews - Amy Andrews is an Australian author, but these book are set in US.

Becoming Beth by Meredith Appleyard - I can't remember why I bought this  one, but it does sound interesting

Snowflakes and Secrets in the Scottish Highlands by Donna Ashcroft - Sneaking another Christmas book in.

A Baby on the Doorstep and 

A Home for Unloved Orphans by Rachel Wesson - The second book was on sale for cheap, but I had to buy the first book as well. Yes, I am a marketers dream customer!

Have you read any of these?

Top Ten Tuesday: Christmas books on my Kindle I haven't read yet

 

Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week the theme is Books I Hope Santa Brings This Year. However, I am choosing to instead share just some of the Christmas books I have on my Kindle that I haven't read yet!

Snowflakes and Secrets in the Scottish Highlands by Donna Ashcroft

The Drover Comes Home for Christmas by Darry Fraser

The Clause in Christmas by Rachael Bloome

Cupcakes for Christmas by Kate Hewitt

His Christmas Cowgirl by Alisa Callen

The Christmas Swap by Sandy Barker

Christmas with the Railway Girls by Maisie Thomas

Christmas in Paris by Tilly Tennant

Christmas at Red Robin Cottage by Sue Roberts

Let it Snow by Beth Moran

Do you enjoy reading books set at Christmas? Have you read any of these?