Book After Book

Publication: 6th November 2025 – One More Chapter

It’s Christmas in Penstowan, and local amateur dramatics group the Penstowan Players are putting on their annual pantomime.

This year it’s ‘Aladdin’, and half the town have been drafted in to help, including Shirley Parker, who only has a small part in the chorus but will no doubt upstage everybody, and Tony Penhaligon, who’s treading the boards as the baddie, Abanazar. Ex-Metropolitan police officer turned caterer Jodie Parker has managed to get away with not appearing, but only if she agrees to cater the opening night party.

But it’s not just terrible jokes, quick costume changes and backstage chaos that wait in the wings… When the Widow Twankey (otherwise known as Tim, the mayor’s husband) trips over a corpse lying next to Aladdin’s bloodstained magic lamp, it’s time for Jodie and her partner, DCI Nathan Withers, to find the killer.

Was it the genie of the lamp or an overly harsh theatre critic? Or does someone in the Penstowan Players have a dark secret they will do anything to protect?

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

The Nosey Parker series is one of my favourite cozy mystery series so I was really excited for a Christmas mystery and I wasn’t disappointed. It’s the first Christmas for Jodie and DCI Nathan Withers as a married couple and almost the entire family is involved in the community pantomime, also known as Panto: her feisty mother Shirley is in the play, her daughter Daisy helped writing the play, and Jodie is catering the event. The opening night is a success and everyone is having fun until a body turns up. DCI Withers is in charge of the investigation, but, of course, Jodie, a former Met detective turned caterer, can’t keep her nose out of it.

The Cornish Christmas Pantomime Murder was my first Christmas novel of the year and I read it in one evening, not able to go to bed until I finished the last page. There is a murder with a list of suspects all in possession of an alibi and no motive; there are red herrings and old secrets that keep you glued to the pages; and a Christmas to prepare when Jodie is not busy investigating the murder. I love the characters and the relationships in this series because they feel authentic and there are talks of culture, sex and contraception, and menopause. There are mystery and tension, but also a lot of humor, especially between Jodie and her mother, that lightens the mood as the murder investigation progresses, and a Christmas atmosphere to get you in the mood.

The Cornish Christmas Pantomime Murder is yet another engaging cozy mystery in this fantastic series and I can’t wait for more.

A huge thank you to One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this gripping novel.

Fiona Leitch is a novelist and screenwriter with a chequered past. She’s written for footballing and motoring magazines, childbirth videos and mail order catalogues; DJ’ed at illegal raves in London, been told off by a children’s TV presenter during a studio debate; and was the Australasian face of a series of TV commercials for a cleaning product. All of which has given her a thorough grounding in the ridiculous, and helped her to write funny stuff.

Publication: 23rd October 2025 – Aria

A slow-burn romance fifteen years in the making…

Hattie has spent half her life secretly crushing on Freddie – her best friend Sam’s irresistibly gorgeous older brother. But Freddie? He’s barely spared a glance for Hattie, the girl Sam befriended one fateful New Years’ Eve when they discovered they were birthday twins.

Fast-forward to now: Hattie finds herself single for the first time in years – just before the holidays. Enter Sam, who, in classic best-friend fashion, whisks her away to a remote cabin in the Forest of Dean to cheer her up. Snowy woodland views? Check. A crackling fire and a steamy hot tub? Check. Zero cell service, ravenous wild boars, and an incoming snowstorm of apocalyptic proportions? Also check.

And to make matters even more intense, Freddie joins them, unexpectedly. Still infuriatingly gorgeous, and still ridiculously off-limits. Except this time, he’s actually noticing Hattie. But then again, maybe he’s been noticing her all along.

Fifteen years of longing. One night to change everything. This New Year’s Eve, they’re playing with fire.

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

Back in April, I loved the author’s debut novel, Work Trip, but after reading House Party, Chloe Ford has become one of my favourite authors. I was completely addicted to this novel: the slow-burn romance and the chemistry, the snowed-in remote cabin, the close friendships, and the wonderful cast of characters.

The protagonist, Hattie, is funny and smart and I found her relatable and authentic. Single for the first time after a relationship of nine years, she wants to focus her last year in her twenties on herself and do all the things she couldn’t do before. First on the list is to organize a New Year’s Party to celebrate also her birthday and that of her best friend Sam, born one day apart. I loved the easy friendship between Hattie and Sam. They met on New Year’s Eve when they were fourteen years old and Hattie promised to hate his brother Freddie as much as he did and they have been friends ever since, going to the same school and university and even living together. However, as we see through flashbacks, it wasn’t that simple for Hattie to hate the handsome and arrogant Freddie. And now, Freddie has joined them on their New Year’s house party, determined to repair his relationship with his brother and, between confessions in hot tubs, sudden blackouts that leaves them alone in the dark, squeezing in a closet during a game of hide-and-seek, and snow-ball fights, they will face not only their feelings for each other, but also their past.

I couldn’t put down this well-written, witty, swoony, and immersive novel and I can’t wait for the author’s next novel!!!

A huge thank you to Aria and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this wonderful novel.

Chloe Ford grew up in rural Sussex but is now based in South Gloucestershire. She has an affinity with all things country, from riding horses to muddy walks. Her love for writing began at secondary school when her English teacher would set a writing task for the whole hour. An avid reader, she started sneaking Mills & Boon books out from under her mum’s bed as a teenager and hasn’t stopped devouring romance books ever since.

Publication: 7th October 2025 – Severn House

Countess-turned-advice columnist Amelia Amesbury has a wedding to plan alongside a new murder in this charmingly deadly historical mystery.

Countess Amelia Amesbury has her work cut out. As well as balancing her alter ego—secret advice columnist, Lady Agony—and the blackmailer threatening to reveal her real identity, her sister has also announced she’s getting married. It’s joyous news, but places all the planning for a high society wedding firmly at Amelia’s door.

Luckily, her good friend and local vicar Mr. Cross has agreed to the expedited nuptials, so that’s one less thing to worry about. Until Cross is found dead at the church. Now in between bridal arrangements, Amelia must follow the clues Mr. Cross left behind.

Clearly, he’d made some enemies during his parishioner work, as strange mishaps begin to occur wherever Amelia goes. But when the danger becomes all too real, Amelia must rely on her friends and the handsome Simon Bainbridge to help solve the murder, save the wedding, and Amelia’s life too . . .

AMAZON

I am delighted to return to this fantastic Victorian mystery series featuring Lady Amelia Amesbury, columnist and occasional detective. In Murder in Matrimony, the fourth book in the series, Amelia is quite busy. First, her sister Madge is getting married in a month and the wedding is at her house so Amelia is juggling wedding preparations, the arrival of her entire lively family, and her sister’s cold feet. Then, her close friend, Reverend Cross, is murdered leaving her a cryptic letter and a mystery to solve, while someone threatens to reveal her secret identity as the columnist Lady Agony.

This is such an entertaining and immersive series with a strong, smart, and confident protagonist. Lady Amelia is a widow who lives in Mayfair with her young ward and her late husband’s fierce aunt. As in the previous books, she investigates with the help of her friend Kitty (and, this time, even her husband Oliver) and with Simon, her charming love interest.

The mystery is intriguing with lots of secrets and a good pace and I loved the inclusion of the blackmail plot, even though it was resolved a bit too quickly and too easily. The family drama surrounding her sister’s wedding was also engaging with the arrival of the drunk uncle and the loud aunt, and the romance between Amelia and Simon was well-developed as it moved forward and it reached a satisfying ending. I loved how each chapter begins with a letter to Lady Agony and her witty responses are quite amusing. Murder in Matrimony is an engaging and thrilling cozy mystery and I am looking forward to the next books!

A huge thank you to Severn House and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this novel.

Mary Winters is the author of the Lady of Letters historical mystery series, two cozy mystery series, and several short stories. A longtime reader of historical fiction, Mary set her latest work in Victorian England after being inspired by a trip to London. Since then, she’s been busily planning her next mystery – and another trip! 

Publication: 30th September 2025 – Simon & Schuster UK

She’s hexed. He’s vexed. And for Scotland’s most magical small-town, their feud might just spell disaster.

Sloane MacGregor swore she’d never return to Briarhaven, but with her twenty-fifth birthday looming – the day witches come into their magic – her grandmother summons her and her sisters back for one tiny task: break the centuries-old curse haunting their bloodline.

Knox Douglas, Briarhaven’s grumpy mayor, has worked tirelessly to make his town a haven for magical folk. The last thing he needs is a cursed MacGregor wreaking havoc. It doesn’t matter he once crushed on her. For the sake of Briarhaven, Sloane has to go.

But magic has other plans – and in Briarhaven, love really is a witch.

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

Today, it’s my turn on the blog tour for Love’s a Witch, the delightful new novel by Tricia O’Malley.

It seems that everything I read lately is set in Scotland. It’s not intentional and I am not complaining as there is always an evocative atmosphere in the story. The latest one is Love’s a Witch, the first in The Scottish Charms by Tricia O’Malley which, based only on the first book, is going to be a fun and intriguing series. There are magical creatures, headstrong heroines, and, already mentioned, the beautiful setting of the Scottish Highlands.

The protagonists of the series are the McGregor girls who carry a centuries old curse that their grandmother thinks it’s about time they break. In Love’s a Witch the protagonists are Sloane McGregor and Knox Douglas. As the eldest daughter, Sloane has always borne the burden of their parents’ fights and she’s always taken responsibility for her sisters, managing a complex relationship with their estranged mother. Knox, as well, is the first son of the family that, for centuries, has taken care of the small town of Briarhaven. After university, he was called back to the family castle and left in charge of everything, while his parents and his younger brothers travel around the world. Despite having a lot in common, when Sloane returns to Briarhaven on her twenty-fifth birthday to claim her powers, Knox is not exactly thrilled as her erratic magic covers the town in snow. Sparks fly as Knox wants her gone and she’s determined to stay and break her family curse. 

Love’s a Witch is an entertaining and charming enemies-to-lovers cozy romance with a magical setting, quirky characters, and adorable magical animals like the young emberwolf (a mix of dragon and and a werewolf) who loves cheese. The romance is full of chemistry, witty banter, and spice and I also loved the family dynamics, especially the bond between the McGregor sisters. Love’s a Witch is the perfect autumnal read and I can’t wait to read the next book!

A huge thank you to SJV and Simon & Schuster for inviting me to join the blog tour and providing me with a copy of this wonderful novel.

Tricia O’Malley is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary, paranormal and fantasy romance. Her books have sold over three million copies worldwide. When she’s not writing, Tricia can be found scuba diving, travelling, or debating the best popcorn topping. She splits her time between Scotland and the Caribbean, loves fun vacation reads, and thinks life is better with a little bit of sparkle. To see some of her Scotland or island life photos, visit her on Facebook, on Instagram, or at www.triciaomalley.com.

Publication: 28th August 2025 (paperback), 25th September 2025 (eBook) – Storm Publishing

A churchyard discovery. A shocking secret. A deadly confrontation.

London,1889. When the body of a wealthy widow is found in the neglected graveyard of St Anne’s Church, Soho, Emma Langley and Penny Green soon discover her respectable façade concealed a web of bitter enemies.

From a disgraced doctor stripped of his livelihood to a governess whose reputation was destroyed by lies, the victim, Mrs Melbourne, left a trail of devastation in her wake.

Then Mrs Melbourne’s Belgravia mansion is consumed by a mysterious fire. Emma and Penny must race to decipher water-damaged papers salvaged from the ruins that could hold the key to the truth.

But as anonymous threatening letters arrive warning them to abandon their investigation, the friends realise they’re hunting someone who will kill again to protect their secret. In the shadow-filled streets of Victorian London, can Emma and Penny expose the murderer before they become the next victims?

AMAZON

Even though Murder in the Soho Graveyard is the third novel in the Emma Langley Victorian Mystery series, this is my first book, both in the series and by this author, and I can tell you that not only it can be easily read as a stand-alone, but that it made me want to read the previous book in the series. The writing is immersive, the atmosphere is evocative, and the mystery is intriguing.

It’s 1890 in London and it all starts when the body of a widow is found in an abandoned graveyard. Emma Langley, a music teacher, and her friend Penny Green, a former journalist, decide to investigate to prove the innocence of the woman who found the body, Clara Clifton, whose job is to visit neglected graveyards for the Metropolitan Public Gardens Committee. As Emma and Penny investigate, they discover that the victim, a respected philanthropist who everyone initially seems to commend, was actually hated by many and the list of suspects keeps growing.

I do love historical mysteries and Murder in the Soho Graveyard kept me engrossed. The protagonists are two strong, intelligent, and inquisitive women who are determined to find out the truth, even after they receive threatening letters. The author perfectly mixes historical facts with the narrative and adds a gothic atmosphere that fits perfectly with the mystery. I am always looking for more historical mysteries and I am delighted to have discovered Emily Organ. I can’t wait to read more of her books!

A huge thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of the novel.

Emily has been a full-time author since 2017. She’s written over thirty books which include the Penny Green Victorian mystery series and the Augusta Peel 1920s mysteries. Born in Yorkshire, Emily grew up in the south of England. She got hooked on mysteries at a young age when she came across Agatha Christie’s books in her local library. Emily studied and worked in London where many of her stories are set. London’s architecture and history has always fascinated her, and she’ll happily spend hours geeking over old maps and historical newspapers. Emily lives in Berkshire with her husband and teenage children. When she’s not writing and researching, she enjoys running, walking her dog and drawing.

Publication: 10th September 2025 (paperback), 8th October 2025 (eBook) – Storm Publishing

At The Wild Haggis Bookshop, the murder mysteries aren’t just on the shelves!

Beth Cunningham thought she’d closed the book on her troubled past when she opened The Wild Haggis Bookshop in the charming Scottish town of Oban. But when her inaugural book club evening ends in real murder – the body dramatically posed amongst the party decorations – her fresh start ends in a twist she definitely didn’t see coming.

With local police detective Logan Hunter eyeing her as his prime suspect, Beth must fight to clear her name. Still, she can’t help but notice his warm brown eyes and dedication to justice… even as he builds a case against her.

Determined to find the truth, Beth is shocked to discover a web of lies among her book club attendees, each one hiding secrets worthy of a bestseller. With time running out before she lands in jail, can Beth uncover the secret worth killing for?

AMAZON

I want to be like the protagonist of this new series by Jackie Baldwin, Beth Cunningham, and move to the Scottish Highlands and open my own bookshop. What I wouldn’t like is having Beth’s secret from her past which makes her a suspect for the murder of a young woman.

After past events forced Beth to leave the beautiful town of Oban in the Scottish Highlands, she’s now returned for a fresh start. She’s opened a bookshop, The Wild Haggis Bookshop, she’s got a black cat named Toby, and she’s getting to know her peculiar employees. The first night of the Armchair Detectives Book Club seems also to go quite well until one of the members is found murdered and Beth is one of the main suspects.

This book has everything I love. A cozy mystery, an engaging and interesting protagonist, a bookshop with its own cat, all set in the beautiful setting of the Scottish Highlands. The plot is clever and well-developed and, even though the ending felt a bit rushed, I enjoyed it very much. The mystery is intriguing and I loved how Beth’s staff comes together to help her figure out who is the killer. As they investigate, they find out that Beth is not the only one with a secret and the list of suspects grows. 

Murder at the Wild Haggis Bookshop is the first book in the The Highland Bookshop Murders series and I am already looking forward to the next book for a new immersing mystery and, hopefully, for more of Detective Logan Hunter.

A huge thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this gripping novel.

Jackie Baldwin grew up in a small, rural town in southwest Scotland. She went off to study law at Edinburgh which proved something of a culture shock and returned to Dumfries to practice family and criminal law. Much later, she retrained as a hypnotherapist and discovered a passion for the inner workings of the human mind. Her first novel was published in 2016 and featured former priest, Detective Inspector Frank Farrell. Murder by the Seaside is her fourth novel and the first in her Detective Grace McKenna series. It is set in Portobello, the seaside suburb of Edinburgh. Married, with two grown-up children and a little grandson, Jackie loves roaming about the East Lothian countryside with her golden retriever, Lucy, or taking her for long walks on one of the many beaches. If you come across her in the wild she will likely be a combination of windswept, muddy, or soggy with twigs in her hair. She also loves to swim in the sea, but is only brave enough to do it in the summer.

Publication: 1st August 2025 (eBook), 9th October 2025 (paperback) – Headline

Christmas with your ex and his family in a cosy cottage in the snowy Scottish Highlands?

It’s the last place Mel imagined spending the holidays.

But when her ex-boyfriend Finn shows up on her doorstep, only months after inexplicably dumping her at his sister’s engagement party, asking her to pretend to his family they’re back together, she agrees – on one condition. Mel can publicly dump Finn at the end of the week and show him just how it feels.

But with Finn’s mother set on making this Christmas picture-perfect, can Mel and Finn keep up the act without falling back into old feelings? As their white lie snowballs out of control, and the ice between them starts to thaw, Mel must decide if she really wants their romance to be just for the season – or something more…

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

A cottage in the middle of the snowy Scottish Highlands is my idea of the perfect Christmas so I was drawn like a moth to a flame to Yours for the Season, the new novel by Emily Stone. This is my first novel by this author, but I enjoyed it very much and I am looking forward to reading more of her stories.

Yours for the Season is a Christmas novel, a story about family, second chances, and romance. Melanie and Finn met in Edinburgh at New Year’s Eve and they had been together for three years until Finn suddenly ended things during his sister’s engagement party. Six months later, Mel agrees to spend Christmas with his family in the Scottish Highlands and pretend they are back together, but this time she will be the one ending things in front of his family. What follows is fake dating, only-one-bed situation, an equal amount of awkward and hilarious moments as well second chances and self-discovery. 

The story is told from two perspectives. In the present time, Mel is still not over her break up with Finn when he turns up at her doorstep, especially because she’s never figured out why he left her. She accepts to spend Christmas with him because she likes his family and for some kind of closure, but there is a lot of anger, heartbreak, and love. On the personal side, she is also struggling with her career choices and what she wants for her future. I really liked this character because she felt authentic and relatable. I also liked the character of Finn, a more complex character with family and past issues. From his perspective, we find out how he and Mel met and how their love story developed and why their story ended.

Yours for the Season is a charming and immersive story. Mel and Finn’s love story kept me captivated as well as Finn’s family and their interesting stories. The Scottish setting was evocative and the Christmas atmosphere made me wish it was already December. Highly recommended!

A huge thank you to Headline and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this wonderful novel.

Emily Stone is the author of five bestselling festive romance novels, including Always, in December. Her novels have been translated into eleven languages. Emily has lived in many places over the years, including London, Wales, Cornwall, Germany and Mozambique – before finally settling down in Bristol, where she spends most of her free time with her two rescue ponies. Emily Stone is the pen name for Becky Hunter, and she also writes speculative romance under her own name.

Publication: 11th September 2025 – Simon & Schuster UK

Filled with scenes of sizzling passion, plot beats of swoon-worthy romance, and a cast of Black female characters that you’ll fall in love with, the unputdownable debut novel from Oti Mabuse brims with heat and heart. Perfect for fans of Talia Hibbert, Laura Jane Williams, Tia Williams, Farrah Rochon, Hannah Grace and Bolu Babalola.

For dancer Lira, Latin Ballroom is everything. Whilst her dreams of fame were cut short aged 19, she’s never forgotten the connection she felt dancing with a stranger at the Paris World Championship afterparty 13 years ago.
 
Now, with her younger sisters pursuing their own successful dancing careers, and the responsibility of running the family dance studio falling to her, Lira’s ambitious flame is about to flicker out. Until a chance encounter sees her secretly auditioning for Slow Burn, a new dance show about to embark on a 6-week European tour, and coming face to face with a blast from her past that sends her reeling.
 
Gabriele is the quintessential bad boy of the Latin Ballroom scene. Slim of hip, with long, lean muscles that pop, a chiselled jaw, dark eyes, obscenely long lashes, and a mouth that just won’t give, it’s no surprise when he lands the principal male lead role on Slow Burn. But, with just a few weeks to go till the tour starts, he still hasn’t found his female co-star. All it takes is one audition to set his world on fire… 
 
On the dance floor they’re smouldering, off it, they’re on fire.

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

Today, I am also on the blog tour for Slow Burn, the fantastic new novel by Oti Mabuse, out now!

Slow Burn is a beautiful story of second chances, self-discovery, and following your dreams, with two relatable and engaging characters and lots of dancing and romance.

The two protagonists are Lira and Gabriele and I loved that we get both points of view of the story. When Lira and Gabriele first met they were young and full of dreams and they shared a night that they’d never forgotten. The second time they meet, thirteen years later, things are more complicated. They both want to dance professionally and they are now the leads in the dance show Slow Burn that will take them touring all around Europe, but they are both under family pressure and expectations.

Lira gave up her dancing career when she was nineteen years old to manage the family dancing studio outside London. Her parents and her sisters have always taken for granted her commitment to the family business, so when she announces that she is going on tour for six weeks they are not happy. On the other hand, Gabriele has pursued a successful dancing career, but now, due to his father’s declining health, his family would like him to return home to take care of the family’s vineyard in Italy. As Lira and Gabriele try to figure out whether to follow their dreams or give in to their family, they will also have to face their feelings for each other. They haven’t forgotten their night together and as they first rehearse for the show and then they go on tour and dance on stage their chemistry is unmistakable.

I really enjoyed Slow Burn. There is romance and family drama, fabulous characters and fantastic places to visit. I liked the characters of Lira and Gabriele from the very beginning and I loved how they both grow and mature throughout the novel and face their past and their families. Their romance is well-developed: there is passion and chemistry, but also a lot to resolve and I couldn’t put the book down. The writing is superb and I can’t wait for the author’s next novel!

A huge thank you to SJV and Simon & Schuster for inviting me to join the blog tour and providing me with a proof of this wonderful novel.

As one of the most instantly recognisable faces in the UK and one of the country’s most beloved broadcasters, presenters and talent show judges, Oti Mabuse is a dancer of international success and renown, winning titles and championships across the world.  The only professional on Strictly Come Dancing to win twice concurrently, she left after seven years on the show and became a judge on Dancing on Ice appearing on our screens to over five million viewers per week. Family and connection means everything to her and in December 2023 she welcomed her first child into the world. Oti spends her (hard won) downtime getting used to the rhythm of Mum-life and escaping into romantic fiction, which, second only to her love of dance, is her other passion in life. Her favourite authors include Colleen Hoover, Bernadine Evaristo and Dolly Alderton.

​”My name, Otlile, means ‘I am here’ in Setswana, and that’s exactly what I am – here. For too long women like me – empowered, curvy, black women – haven’t been able to see ourselves in swoon-worthy, heart-racing romances… I want to change that.” Oti Mabuse

Publication: 11th September 2025 – Simon & Schuster UK

From rivals in the classroom. . . to partners in real life? 

Sadie Shaw and Jonah Fisher have known each other for fifteen years – and they’ve disliked each other for every one of them. It started with a minor altercation in an undergrad literature class, but as their academic careers developed, so did the intensity of their arguments. By the time they graduate with their doctorates, they’re embroiled in a full-on rivalry.

So when a position comes up that Sadie and Jonah are both perfect for, their ongoing enmity explodes into a red-hot competition. But as Sadie fights to secure her future, she realises there might be a way for both of them to get their dream job. There’s just one catch – they’ll have to get married first.

When things get personal, though, Sadie will have to keep her eye on the prize. A fake marriage isn’t worth jeopardising her real career over, is it?

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

Today, I am delighted to take part in the blog tour for what turned out to be one of my favourite novels of the year, An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister.

I loved this book so much. The slow burn romance (and by slow, I mean 15 years long slow), the banter, the rivalry, the fake marriage, I loved everything about this book. It’s a good thing that I started reading it on the weekend, because I read it in one day, completely engrossed in Jonah and Sadie’s story.

If you love academia rom-com, then this is the right read for you. The author gives us an in depth look into the world of academia, with all its competitions and politics, and the two protagonists have doctorates in literature and I loved the many literary references and their dispute during classes made them quite popular among students.

If you love enemies-to-lovers romances, this is also the perfect read for you. Since their very first class, Sadie and Jonah have disagreed on everything and that rivalry, that has been going on for fifteen years, moved to the personal side when they ended up living in the same shared house. Their romance is beautiful. I loved how it developed gradually and the added element of the marriage of convenience works really well in the story. And while the romance is the focus of the story and I couldn’t get enough of it, the protagonist’s complicated relationship with their respective families is also an engrossing sidestory. Jonah comes from an eminent family with an arrogant and overbearing father who’s always interfered in his professional life, pushing him to compete with others, even his own siblings. On the other hand, Sadie’s childhood was far from easy and the only family she has is her fierce and loyal sister Chess.

I laughed a lot, but An Academic Affair is also an emotional read. Both the story and the characters feel relatable and I loved the Tasmanian setting. The author’s writing kept me captivated and the footnotes were an entertaining bonus. I can’t recommend this novel enough and I am keeping my fingers crossed for more novels about the other characters!

A huge thank you to SJV and Simon & Schuster UK for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and providing me with a copy of this brilliant novel.

Jodi McAlister, PhD, is an author and academic from Kiama, Australia. Her academic work focuses on the history of love, sex, women and girls, popular culture, and fiction. It means that reading romance novels and watching The Bachelor is technically work for her. She is currently a senior lecturer in writing, literature, and culture at Deakin University in Melbourne. For more, visit https://jodimcalister.com.au/.

Publication: 8th September 2025 – Bookouture

A dead body and a missing sapphire pendant? Lady Poppy Proudfoot is on the case!

Scotland, 1924: When Lady Poppy Proudfoot is invited to her friend’s hotel on the Isle of Skye, she is looking forward to a holiday. But all thoughts of relaxing vanish when she discovers the body of a strangled woman in a church.

The police believe the widow’s death was a robbery gone wrong, as a pendant was stolen from the scene. But Poppy is sure it’s murder. Ignoring the police’s warnings to keep her nose out, she enlists her friend Inspector MacKenzie, and her loyal Labrador, Major, to unpick the case.

Poppy suspects one of the hotel’s guests knows more about the murder than they are willing to admit. Could it be Miss Buccleugh, the avid button collector? Or the travelling guru, who conveniently disappeared just after the murder? Or was it Mr Henderson, so desperate for money he was driven to murder?

When Poppy sees the victim’s sapphire pendant on the neck of another guest, she is convinced the killer is targeting widows in the hotel, and luring them in with jewellery. But to prove her theory, she will have to offer herself up as bait. It’s risky, but her only way of catching the killer… Can Poppy con a con-man, and make it out alive? Or will she be the next wealthy widow on the killer’s list?

An addictive and gripping whodunnit, this historical cozy crime novel is perfect for fans of the mysteries of Verity Bright, T.E. Kinsey, Helena Dixon and Catherine Coles.

AMAZON

I am thrilled to take part in the blog tour for Murder on a Scottish Island, the engaging new novel by Lydia Travers.

The reason I love this series is that it feeds on my Scottish obsession and it has a strong and independent heroine. I really loved the first book in the series, Death at the Highland Loch, and I have been looking forward to reading more adventures set in 1920s Scotland and featuring Lady Poppy Proudfoot and her loyal Labrador Major.

In Murder on a Scottish Island, Poppy and Major are going on holiday on the Isle of Skye and, despite her assurances to Inspector MacKenzie to stay away from murder investigations, she is yet again involved in one. Because, in spite of what the police believes, Poppy is convinced that the widow found strangled is not a simple case of a robbery gone wrong and that there is more to the story and, armed with her notebook, curiosity, and attention to detail, she has every intention to find out what it is.

Murder on a Scottish Island is another fantastic cozy mystery featuring a tenacious and clever heroine determined to discover the truth and a dog stealing the scene any chance he gets. The mystery is intriguing and well-paced, with a good number of suspects and suspense, and there are a few quirky characters that add humor to the novel. Add the beginning of a slow-burn romance between Poppy and Inspector MacKenzie and the atmospheric and beautiful Scottish setting with a charming hotel and a cast of unconventional guests full of secrets and you have an enthralling and entertaining cozy historical mystery. I can wait for the next adventure!

A huge thank you to Sarah Hardy and Bookouture for inviting me to join the blog tour and providing me with a proof of this fantastic novel.

Lydia Travers was born in London.  She moved progressively north until settling with her husband in a village on the edge of the Scottish Highlands. She has raised children, bred dogs and kept chickens; and for as long as she can remember has written for pleasure. A former legal academic and practitioner with a PhD in criminology, she now runs self-catering holiday accommodation, sings in a local choir and is walked daily by the family dog.

Lydia also writes as Linda Tyler and her first novel under that name, Revenge of the Spanish Princess, won a 2018 Romance Writers of America competition for the beginning of an historical romance. Her second novel The Laird’s Secret was Commended in the 2021 Scottish Association of Writers’ Pitlochry Quaich competition for the beginning of a romantic novel. Mischief in Midlothian won the 2022 Scottish Association of Writers’ Constable Silver Stag trophy. She has had a number of short stories published in magazines, journals and anthologies in the UK, the USA and Australia.

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