I think you might just know by now that I’ve just returned from a two month cruise around the Mediterranean – something very different for me, and the lovely memories will stay with me for a very long time. I didn’t mention it before I left, but I did think it might just be the perfect opportunity to catch up on loads of books that have been sitting on my kindle for far too long – and I fastidiously downloaded 85 books (well, I didn’t want to run out!) onto my three kindles (just in case any of them developed a problem…). I spent ages choosing them, deliberately included lots of books that would match my itinerary. I pictured myself, reclined on deck in the sunshine or in the observatory lounge, steadily working my way through them – and telling you all on my return about the impressive number I’d managed to get through.
Best laid plans, eh? We had very few sea days, and when in port I was determined to make the most of every available outing. And when we had those rare days at sea – well, there was far too much going on to just sit with a book (time with new friends, the lectures, the special events, all those quizzes, the cookery demonstrations, the photography lessons, the concerts, the games – and I discovered I was an absolute star at Name That Tune!).
So – exactly how many books did I read over that two months? I’m so ashamed to admit it, but I only read ten… yes, honestly, just ten! Oh, and I did listen to four audio books – while doing my daily four circuits of the deck (that was a mile – visits to the gym sadly didn’t happen anything like as often as I’d intended…) or on some of the longer coach trips – but I’ll tell you about them when I do my usual post-Christmas audiobook round-up.
I’ll apologise now that I’m not going to write full reviews – just a few lines, which I promise to transfer to Amazon and Goodreads (and Netgalley where appropriate) with a star rating. And I have taken the opportunity to also share a few of my photos, knowing that not everyone who reads the blog will have had access to my personal Facebook feed – you’ll need a cup of coffee for this one, it’s a long post! Only the first photo wasn’t taken by me, from the port’s website, just to set the scene… (although it was a great deal rougher when I sailed away on the Balmoral…).
So, what was I reading when we set off from Port of Tyne? Well it certainly wasn’t one that fit in with my plan (I should have seen it as a sign of things to come really…) – just a book that I really wanted to read ahead of Christmas, Winter Nights at the Bay Bookshop by Jessica Redland. Published on 9th September by Boldwood Books, this lovely book is now available in all formats (and the kindle version is free with Amazon Prime) – my thanks to the publishers for my advance reading ecopy, provided via netgalley.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year at Bay Books, and a new love story is being written in the stars… ✨
Nestled amongst the comforting shelves of her beloved Bay Books, Lily Appleton finds the peace and quiet she needs. But with Christmas just around the corner, Lily has to find an extra pair of hands to help her share the bookish magic.
After selling his business, Lars Jóhannsson is feeling lost. A job at Bay Books would give him the space he needs to contemplate his next move, but returning would mean confronting a painful past he’s been avoiding. He’s also fairly sure he’s the one person Lily would never want to see again.
Lily is torn. Lars could be the perfect fit for Bay Books, but he once rejected her friendship and the hurt still lingers. But working together, Lily discovers a vulnerability that Lars has kept hidden away, along with a few surprising secrets. And as the Christmas season sprinkles its magic, Lily discovers the warmth of renewed friendship and the joy of heartwarming traditions from Lars’s Icelandic roots.
Surrounded by the quiet magic of the season and the soft glow of festive lights, perhaps there’s even the possibility of finding a love as enchanting as the Northern Lights on a winter’s night.
I’ve always loved spending Christmas on Castle Street, and this book was every bit as perfect and enjoyable as I knew it would be. An initially unlikely developing romance, the bookshop setting that every reader will love, all those emotional moments and echoes from the past that the author always does so well – and the festive Iceland touches were quite wonderful. One of those perfect Christmas reads.
Abandoning my idea of themed reading for a while, I then moved on to another one with a bookish theme – The Second Chance Book Club by Stephanie Butland, available in all formats, published by Headline Review in April/May 2025. My thanks to the publishers for my review ecopy, provided via netgalley – and I’m sorry it took me so long to catch up with it!
A heart-warming story about how a letter with surprising news changes everything – from the author of the beloved Found in a Bookshop.
September was adopted when she was fifteen months old. She knows nothing about her early life, but she grew up safe and loved. Now, though, it’s just September and her feckless boyfriend Shaun. And she’s at her wits’ end. There’s never enough money, and she has nothing to look forward to.
Then a letter comes. September has inherited a house – and Shaun can see endless opportunities if she sells it. But, almost as soon as she sets foot in the garden, September knows she cannot let this home go. And she longs to find out more about the mysterious Lucia who left it to her.
When the members of Lucia’s book club arrive, for the first time September hears stories of her mother, of the aunt who adored her, and of the secrets that broke the family apart. And she begins to make new friends.
September feels safe here. But money alone can’t bring contentment. September is at the start of a journey full of surprises, shocks – and opportunities, if she’s brave enough . . .
An unexpected inheritance provides September with the much needed opportunity for a fresh start, and an end to her money worries. She discovers a family history she knew nothing about – including an aunt who bought and stored birthday gifts for her despite losing contact, and who kept a journal that captured acts of kindness she received and the ways she was able to show kindness to others. And she continues to do the same – finding friendship and support through the diverse group who were her aunt’s book club, slowly learning more about what kindness really means while growing more comfortable about her past life and finding happiness in her future. The cast of quirky characters was wonderful, September herself very sympathetic and loveable, every emotional moment in the book was perfectly judged – and I loved the literary references, the books they read and discussed together and which helped them change their lives for the better, as will any reader who picks up this lovely read. Full of warmth, and totally delightful – a book I’d thoroughly recommend to others.
By this point, we were travelling through the Bay of Biscay – only a teeny bit rough, but I felt the need for something light and lovely to take my mind off it. So what did I choose? You Had Me at Pumpkin Patch by Anita Faulkner – published on 28th August by HQ, available in all formats (and free with Amazon Prime). My thanks to the publishers for my review ecopy, provided via netgalley.
Rosie’s life is not turning out as planned. She dreams of becoming a novelist, but she’s lost her writing job to an AI chatbot and discovered her boyfriend cheating …
Rosie sets off for a fresh start, only for her car to break down at Autumn Meadows Farm in the Cotswolds, where she is mistaken for a job applicant and finds herself planning ‘Pumpkin Retreats’ to save the farm from developers.
Embracing farm life, Rosie rediscovers her passion for writing – and begins to fall for the gruff but undeniably handsome pumpkin farmer, Zain. But when Rosie learns Zain has been using the same AI chatbot that replaced her to plan their dates and script romantic lines, her happiness is threatened.
Can Rosie and Zain patch up their differences to write their own happy ending?
🍁Perfect for fans of forced proximity, grumpy x sunshine, and autumnal spice🍁
Warm and funny, with really well drawn characters, and a delicious slowly developing romance as Rosie and Zain deal with their issues and move tentatively towards their hoped for happy ending. The pumpkin farm was the perfect setting for an autumnal story, with nice touches of drama as the developers move closer to destroying the dream of providing countryside retreats – and the twists and turns in the relationship at its centre really kept the pages turning, as I really hoped they could get past their many false starts and misunderstandings. The author’s emotional touch was just perfect – and some of the romantic moments so very beautiful they brought a tear to my eye. The ever present humour was gentle – and I really liked the contemporary touches in the story with the involvement of AI and chatbots. A very engaging love story – and one I very much enjoyed.
Visited lovely La Coruña, and Cadiz where I took the opportunity for a day out in Seville – time I read a book set in Spain, eh? And I chose Under a Spanish Sky by TA Williams, published by Boldwood Books on 26th September, available in all formats (and free via Kindle Unlimited). My thanks to the publishers for my reading ecopy, provided via netgalley.
Out of darkness, light will shine…
Amy Hardy once lived a life full of colour, but a tragic accident has turned her world to shadows. Determined to embrace her new life, Amy sets off on the famous Compostela pilgrimage, hoping to find light in the darkness and a new path.
Accompanying her on her journey is Luke Patterson a man whose own troubled past casts dark shadows over his life. He’s hoping that guiding Amy will be a distraction from his own troubles.
But as Luke and Amy travel through the stunning scenery of Northern Spain, following in footsteps of those travellers before them, they feel a connection to each other. And as their bond grows, a love story from the distant past emerges before them, forcing them to confront their own secrets, pain and feelings for each other.
Can a story of courage and bravery help them both to emerge from the shadows into the light once more?
Under A Spanish Sky is an enchanting novel about the search for happiness, fulfilment and, above all, love that you won’t be able to put down.
(This book was previously published as Chasing Shadows)
Something very different from an author who’s always a personal favourite – the present day travels of Luke and Amy, both damaged in their different ways and growing closer as their journey together progresses, counterpointed by a parallel historical thread set in the fourteenth century, with equally strong and well drawn characters, laced with romance and danger. The dual time threads are beautifully managed, with small echoes from the past reverberating in the present – and the vivid descriptions of Northern Spain and the challenging route to Santiago de Compostela are stunning. There are edge-of-the-seat moments throughout, particularly in the historical thread – but quieter emotional moments too, as the modern day pair confront their issues and start to discover happiness in each other. This book wasn’t at all what I expected – but I have to say that it was a read I really loved.
I was streaming with cold (and aching after a careless fall) when we got to Palma, Mallorca – and still as bad when we got to Barcelona, sleeping a lot and struggling to read. But I really loved our few days in Valencia, before a few more sea days on our way to Menorca, and then Corsica. So many Spanish themed books I’d planned to read – but instead, I moved onto one that I really fancied reading while on a ship (and it was one chosen by the on board book club…). The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware was published by Vintage Books way back in 2016 – it’s been on my kindle since I purchased it in 2017. And yes, I know there’s been a Netflix film with Keira Knightley, and a follow-up book (The Woman in Suite 11) – but it’s a book I’ve been wanting to read for a while…
A PASSENGER IS MISSING…BUT WAS SHE EVER ON BOARD AT ALL?
This was meant to be the perfect trip. The Northern lights. A luxury press launch on a boutique cruise ship. A chance for travel journalist Lo Blacklock to recover from a traumatic break-in that has left her on the verge of collapse.
Except things don’t go as planned.
Woken in the night by screams, Lo rushes to her window to see a body thrown overboard from the next-door cabin. But the records show that no-one ever checked in to that cabin, and no passengers are missing from the boat.
Exhausted and emotional, Lo has to face the fact that she may have made a mistake – either that, or she is now trapped on a boat with a murderer…
A change of pace from my usual reading, and a story I raced through – it certainly lived up to its billing as an “unputdownable thriller”. But although it was gripping, and I did rather enjoy it for what it was, I thought the story did go off the rails a bit towards its latter half and became rather less than convincing and believable. The main character was particularly difficult to like, and that made me rather less invested in the story’s outcome – I’d guess it would make a good film, but I think I might just give it a miss.
La Spezia in Italy next (jumping off point for the Cinque Terre), then Salerno, Naples, Sorrento… and then Civitavecchia for three nights. There were SO many Italian books on my list, all looked forward to – and, with all the wonderful day trips, I only managed ONE. The Lost Garden by Angela Petch was published by Bookouture on 11th September, available in all formats, and free via Kindle Unlimited – my reading ecopy was my own, purchased via Amazon.
Italy, 1942. Moonlight pools around my feet as I cross the silent garden, and my heart stops when I see a familiar figure, crumpled on the flagstone floor of the greenhouse. Dropping to my knees, I gather him into my arms, tears filling my eyes. ‘Olivio! What have they done to you?!’
When flamed-haired Tina stumbles upon a secret, overgrown space within in the sprawling grounds of the castle where she has lived her whole life, she knows she’s found her mother’s lost garden. Defying her strict father, who has forbidden her to even speak of the woman who died giving birth to her, Tina vows to bring it back to life with the help of Olivio, a shy, handsome young man from the village.
But as war clouds looming on the horizon and enemy planes in the sky, Tina is horrified to learn that father supports the Nazis. She promises to help Olivio and his friends in the Italian Resistance in any way she can.
And when she finds her mother’s long-lost leather-bound journal tucked away in the castle library, she begins to realise that the garden – with its hidden passages and life-giving herbs – could make it a vital place of healing and safety…
Then Tina discovers a man seeking shelter in the garden one night, injured and in terrible pain. She hurries to help, and her heart is gripped with fear when she sees it’s Olivio. Tina knows the risks – helping him could cost her everything. But still she vows to fight – for his life, for their future together, and for freedom.
With more than one life depending on her and danger at every turn, can Tina save the man she loves and keep the secrets of the lost garden safe?
An absolutely breathtaking and stunning historical novel about the incredible risks people took in wartime, family secrets, loss and love. Perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy and Santa Montefiore.
Tina might live a privileged life within the walls of her father’s castle – but she also feels imprisoned, with the only kindness she experiences being from their housekeeper Allegra, while her father refuses to talk about her mother who died in childbirth. Until she discovers her mother’s secret garden – and, helped by the handsome Olivio from the nearby village, she sets about restoring it to its former glory. But the Second World War is at their doorstep – her remote father aligns with the fascists, but she finds herself taking extraordinary risks, often putting her own life in danger, to help the forces of the resistance. This really was such an immersive read, very gripping, with a gentle touch of magic as Tina’s mother looks over her and guides her path – the setting and era are beautifully portrayed, with accuracy in every detail, and I found myself totally caught up in the story. There are times when the author doesn’t pull her punches – this was a brutal time, and the story bears witness to that – but there are also moments of real tenderness in the developing romance and the strong and supportive friendships, every emotional moment perfectly handled and every character entirely relatable and beautifully drawn. Immersive storytelling, and a book that will remain in my memory – I loved it.
But although I really loved it, and it’s a substantial book at over 400 pages, it hasn’t taken me so long to read a book in a very long time – I dipped in throughout my time in Italy, and it saw me through Montenegro (Kotor), Slovenia (moored at Koper, and a wonderful day out at Lake Bled), Sibenik and Split in Croatia (another perfect day out, at the waterfalls in Krka National Park).
With apologies to all other authors of books set in Italy that I really did want to read, I decided to get ahead of myself on my journey. After a couple of days in Dubrovnik (sadly blighted by bad weather, the only time on the whole cruise), we were off to Kefalonia – and I had a book I really wanted to read based there. The Silent Sister by Jan Baynham was published by Joffe Books/Choc Lit on 5th August, available for kindle (free via Kindle Unlimited) and in paperback. This book is the second of her Sun-Kissed Sagas – I read and thoroughly enjoyed the first, The Secret Sister, back in 2023 but was gutted not to be able to share a review because I read it as part of the judging process for an award.
A woman searching for somewhere to belong.
A child rescued from the rubble of a ruined island.
A secret buried in the heart of Kefalonia.
Greece, 1953. When a catastrophic earthquake reduces the beautiful island of Kefalonia to ruins, Cassia Makris risks everything to save a young girl buried beneath the rubble that was once her home.
In that moment, Cassia makes a life-changing decision that will bind their fates forever but force her to carry a devastating secret . . .
Wales, 1973. Eléni Davies has always felt there was something unspoken in her past — a silence at the heart of her childhood. When she discovers a hidden journal among her mother’s belongings, it unravels an untold story of love and loss on a faraway island.
Drawn to the place where her story really began, Eléni travels to the now-rebuilt Kefalonia. Among the lemon groves and sun-bleached chapels, she begins retracing her mother’s footsteps to piece together a story that was never meant to be told.
But in doing so, Eléni must decide whether some secrets are better left buried — or whether confronting them is the only way to finally heal.
This unforgettable dual-timeline historical page-turner will sweep you away to the olive groves and sapphire-blue seas of a sun-kissed Greek island. Perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, Dinah Jefferies, Victoria Hislop, Santa Montefiore or Karen Swan.
Estranged from her family having chosen to marry a man who didn’t meet with their approval, now widowed, Cassia’s life is about to change again in a major way – it’s 1953, and the earthquake hits the island of Kefalonia, destroying the village where she lives. Together with Tom, a British sailor on the island to give assistance, she rescues a little girl from the wreckage – unable to speak, and apparently with no remaining close family. Twenty years later, living in Wales, young Eléni knows nothing about her past, wrapped in love – until she finds Cassia’s journal, and travels back to Kefalonia to find out what she can about her birth family. It’s wonderful, moving and emotional, warm and uplifting, and beautifully told – the characters are beautifully drawn, the romances draw you into the story, and the Greek island setting is particularly well described. It’s a book about kindness and love, family, belonging, and about forgiveness – and I loved every moment.
That one saw me heading to mainland Greece – Kalamata, then Athens – and on to Santorini, Crete and Rhodes, with shore trips every day. Oh yes, and the small matter of celebrating my 70th birthday – and I couldn’t really be unsociable with my book on that day, could I?
That was followed by Turkey – Bodrum, Kusadasi, and Istanbul (which was spectacularly everything I hoped it would be). I did manage one more book in all that time though – all attempts to read books appropriate to the destination abandoned, I decided to go for an author who’s always a personal favourite. Yes, Laura Pearson – The Life She Could Have Lived was published by Boldwood Books on 12th September, and is available in all formats (free for kindle with Amazon Prime). The ecopy I read was my own, purchased via Amazon.
What if the answer to one little question could change your whole life?
Soon after Anna goes on the best date of her life with a man called James – she and her best friend Nia visit a fortune teller. Who tells Nia that she will have one great love. But all she tells Anna is that her future is with a man whose name begins with a J.
It won’t be James though – he never calls. And then Anna meets Edward – gorgeous, kind, loving. He’s all she’s ever dreamed of. Until he asks her to make a choice about their future.
If Anna says ‘yes’ to him, her life will go one way. If she says ‘no’, it’ll go another. Both of the worlds could be happy. Both of the worlds could be heartbreaking… But as Nia meets her one great love in both worlds, which of Anna’s answers – yes or no – will bring her life together with the person who she’s fated to be with?
I always love a sliding doors story – and always think how very difficult it must be to have two connected stories running along different paths, both equally engaging, without either reader or writer losing the plot. As you’d expect, Laura Pearson does it with absolute perfection – from the start point of Anna making the decision whether to be a mother, then following different tracks based on whether her answer is “yes” or “no”. The realities of motherhood are vividly captured – the good, and the bad – but equally the challenges of choosing career and travel and finding that too can have its significant downsides. It’s an unexpectedly easy book to read – the signposting is very clear, and the storylines diverge more than enough to avoid confusion. Really cleverly, both tracks feature the same characters who are important in Anna’s life – and scenes and events are sometimes mirrored, seen from a different perspective. There’s often humour found in that clairvoyant prediction – and I was particularly impressed with the unpredictability of the two stories’ endings. The whole structure really works – both alternative lives visited on the same day every year, the date’s importance varying in significance depending on the path followed. And as for Anna, I loved her – whatever course she chose to take through life, and whatever mistakes she might have made, just wanting her to find happiness. Superb – and very highly recommended..
Next stop Malta – and my reading was finally back in step with my destination, as I decided to pick up Never Tear Us Apart by Rowan Coleman. Published in July 2025 by Hodder & Stoughton, it’s available in all formats – and the ecopy I read was my own, purchased from Amazon on the day it was released.
Fate has brought them together. Will time tear them apart?
2025 Named after a star, war correspondent Maia knows how to find the brightest stories – the tales of survival and strength – hidden amongst the dark realities of combat.
Now, travelling to Malta to visit her estranged father, with one more chance to build a relationship with her last remaining relative, she’s here to find her own story: never having found somewhere – or someone – she can call home, she’s desperate for answers that might show her where she truly belongs.
But when she arrives on the beautiful mediterranean island, she realises her long-lost family is full of more secrets than she could possibly have imagined. . .
1942 Maia wakes up to find herself on an island under siege, a city in ruins – and knows she must have been sent here for a reason.
Who has she been sent to save? Or is it Maia herself that needs saving? And just when she’s finally found what she’s been seeking . . . will time separate them forever?
Perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Santa Montefiore and Dinah Jefferies.
Dual timeline, time travel, time slip – call it whatever you like, but I thought this book was simply wonderful. Visiting Malta with her father, with whom she has a difficult relationship, in the present day, Maia finds herself slipping back to 1942 and the wartime siege of Malta, with no control over the way time moves around her: she also carries guilt over an incident she experienced as a war correspondent, and that resonates through both timelines. The characters are superbly drawn, the pervading mystical elements so well handled, the romance elements strong and believable, the book’s whole sense of place is exceptional, and I really enjoyed the themes of family, emotional support, and belonging. Yes, the time travel storyline does need some suspension of disbelief – but I didn’t find that an issue for an instant. A really compelling read, and a story so very well told – I loved it.
A couple of days in Malaga, then Gibraltar, then Lisbon – and a changed route on the way home because of an incoming storm, with a stop at Honfleur in Normandy. I’ll be honest and say I’d totally abandoned any attempt to synchronise my reading with my trip – but the book I did decide on was a remarkably suitable choice. The Secret Shore by Liz Fenwick was published by HQ in 2023, and is available in all formats: the ecopy I read was provided by the publishers via netgalley over two years ago, and I can only apologise that it’s taken me so long to read it.
As one of the Navy’s most skilled mapmakers, Merry knows that lives depend on her work in the War Office. But when a family crisis draws her back to her beloved Cornwall, she finds herself working alongside Jake, an enigmatic American officer, on secret operations spanning the rugged coasts of Cornwall and Brittany which she knows so well.
As rumours and suspicion swirl around her family, Merry is increasingly drawn to Jake, despite the defences she’s built around her heart. It’s a dangerous time to fall in love; the tides of war are rising and there is everything to lose…
The award-winning author Liz Fenwick returns with a glorious, sweeping novel full of intrigue and passion.
‘Arguably Liz Fenwick’s best book to date. Merry is a wonderful narrator… fascinating and complex… It’s beautifully researched and the life and landscape of the secret part of Cornwall around the Helford river gloriously evoked. What a pleasure to read!’ Rachel Hore
The historical detail in this wonderful book totally captivated me – Merry’s work as a mapmaker, so critical in wartime, coupled with her involvement in the rehearsals and support for the D-Day invasion while based on the Helford river. The author’s research must have been so extensive, but she uses it judiciously to bring Merry’s experiences fully to life – I liked the way she brought out the limited opportunities available to women, filling the reader with a particular sense of injustice. The descriptions of the Cornish countryside are exceptional, sitting quite comfortably within the wider narrative, giving the whole book such a vivid sense of place: her characters are equally strong, well developed, bringing them to life on the page. And the whole story was one I thoroughly enjoyed, both immersive and compelling, with a family mystery, moments of considerable threat and danger and the need for bravery, but also a romance that I found both moving and convincing. Unputdownable and unforgettable – and I’m just sorry it took me so long getting round to reading it.
And now I’m home again, and normal service will now be resumed – I’ve read six more books since returning home, two already reviewed, with four more reviews to follow soon. Then, of course, I really need to get stuck into some Christmas reading!
I do have a few remaining apologies. I did promise to share reviews of my pre-cruise reading on my return – you’ll find my post here. I’m so sorry, but I’m finding it impossible to produce reviews of my usual depth after a two month break – but I do promise to write a few lines on each for Amazon and Goodreads, plus a star rating. I also made some rather rash promises to read and review some books immediately after my return – if some of them slip into January, I do hope you’ll understand…
Fabulous post Anne x
Wow! A two month cruise. Now that is something.
Great post Anne. I think you did well to read what you did given how busy you were! I loved Stephanie Butland’s book.