Book After Book

Publication: 8th April 2025 – Quercus Books

Lexi is looking for no-strings-attached fun with a stranger. She deserves one night for herself, doesn’t she?

Zeke is looking for love. But for one night with a woman like Lexi, he’ll break his rules . . .

Sparks fly at the pub, one passionate kiss leads to another and they end up stumbling home to the marina together.

The next morning, hungover and shaken by an amazing night together, Lexi is more than ready for Zeke to leave. There’s just one small problem . . . the houseboat they stayed on has been swept out to sea.

As their supplies start to run dangerously low, and the waves pick up, Zeke and Lexi soon realise there’s much more on the line than their new relationship.

How long can they really survive on a drifting houseboat in the North Sea? Will search and rescue find them? And who will they be if they both make it back to dry land?

Swept Away is the epic new romance from the million-copy bestselling author of The Flatshare and The No-Show about your one-night stand becoming your one and only lifeline.

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The new novel by Beth O’Leary is an immersive and entertaining novel featuring two relatable and complex characters, romance, adventure, and a seagull named Eugene.

So far, I’ve read most of Beth O’Leary’s novels (I still have a couple of my kindle to enjoy) and I’ve loved and appreciated all of them. My favourite remains The Wake-Up Call but Swept Away is a close second. It all starts with drinks in a pub, a one-night stand, and a bit of misunderstanding and then the two protagonists, Lexi and Zeke, find themselves in a boat in the middle of the sea with no way to ask for help. Stuck together, Lexi and Zeke have no choice but to try to find a way to survive, while also facing their past, their fears, and their feelings for each other.

I love Beth O’Leary’s writing and the idea of setting the story in the middle of the sea is unique and refreshing, keeping the two protagonists in close proximity and in isolation and providing them with a few (some quite scary) challenges to face.

Beth O’Leary not only creates beautiful stories, but also wonderful, authentic, and likable characters. Lexi is smart and strong, but she’s always put others before her, putting her own dreams on hold. On the other hand, Zeke has always felt something missing from his life and he is haunted by his relationship with his family, especially his father. I loved their relationship, their chemistry and how they slowly learn to be honest with each other.

Swept Away is a fun, exciting, and also emotional escapist read that kept me immersed from the first to the last page!

A huge thank you to Quercus Books and NetGalley for a proof of this fantastic novel.

Beth O’Leary is a Sunday Times bestselling author whose novels have been translated into more than thirty languages. Her debut, The Flatshare, sold over a million copies and is now a major TV series. Her subsequent novels, The Switch, The Road Trip, The No-Show and The Wake-Up Call, were all instant bestsellers. A TV series of The Road Trip was first aired in 2024. Beth lives in the Hampshire countryside, and if she’s not in her writing shed, you’ll probably find her chasing a toddler, with a strong coffee in hand . . .

Publication: 10th April 2025 – HarperCollins

He’s a rogue. She’s a liar. Together, they’re scandalous…

Mira Marleigh hides behind a pen name to write scandalous stories about the lords and ladies of society at the court of Queen Charlotte. Her world is turned upside down when an outrageous circular she writes sends Regency buck, Finnegan Underwood, on the run for murder.

As Mira heads to the Devon coast in search of the real culprit, she finds herself caught in a den of ruffians and scoundrels, not least Finnegan himself. Now turned smuggler, he is proving to be one lawbreaker who is very hard to resist.

Can Mira keep her head, and her heart, in her quest for the truth…?

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I have been reading and enjoying the Marleigh Sisters series since the first book and each time a new story comes out it becomes my new favourite. I love the writing style and there is the right mix of romance and mystery, and, in An Unladylike Secret, we have murder, scandal, smuggling, and adventure.

The protagonist of the novel is the third younger of the Marleigh Sisters. Daughters of an English lord and his Indian mistress, the three sisters were brought to England after the death of their parents and raised (and mistreated) by their father’s wife and their son. The three sisters became estranged and started leading an independent life and now Mira is the true writer behind Aurelius, the famous journalist who reveals all the aristocracy scandals. Her latest circular about the disagreement she overheard between the two Underwood brothers led everyone to believe that Finnegan Underwood had murdered his brother a few days later and he is now on the run. Feeling responsible and not sure of Finnegan’s guilt, Mira heads to Devonshire to investigate. She certainly doesn’t expect to find herself involved with smugglers or adrift on a boat in the middle of the night with a handsome and charming suspect. Used to be alone and independent, Mira is surprised to find herself surrounded by friends ready to help her and a man who becomes harder and harder to resist.

I must admit that I couldn’t put it down. I loved the characters, the mystery, the romance between Mira and Finnegan, and also the setting of the coast of Devon. Mira, like her sisters, is still haunted by her past and her upbringing and Finnegan, too, has his own demons to face. Their characters develop quite well and the story flows easily, keeping me glued to the pages. I am looking forward to the next book in the series!

A huge thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for a proof of this fantastic novel, in exchange for my honest review.

Amita is a writer, based in London. She first discovered her love for Georgette Heyer’s sparkling banter and runaway horses when she found one of Heyer’s romantic adventures in a second-hand bookstall as a teenager. There was no looking back – as in, it took another few decades to realise that Heyer was more than just a delicious obsession. Amita’s first Regency, Unladylike Lessons in Love, comes out in 2023 and takes readers on a ride through a diverse 19th century London landscape like you’ve never seen it before. Amita’s Arya Winters series of mysteries is published with Agora. The first came out in 2021. Get in touch @AmitaMurray and amitamurray.Wordpress.com

Publication: 8th April 2025 – Bookouture

When the family gardener is murdered near a site of legendary buried treasure, dog-lover and mystery-solver Cressida Fawcett is on the case!

1926, Sussex. The Honourable Cressida Fawcett is delighted to return to her parents’ rambling mansion to introduce them to her pug Ruby’s puppies. But when the pups go running off with Cressida in hot pursuit, they lead her to a bubbling stream – Hell’s Ditch. And the body of Bob the gardener is floating there, his outstretched hand clutching a soggy cheese and pickle sandwich.

Everyone assumes Bob died of natural causes. But when Cressida finds a glittering gold coin grasped in his other fist, she realises this is part of the long-hidden Saxon hoard. Was Bob struck down by the gold’s ancient curse? As Cressida interviews the colourful members of the local historical society, she learns that Bobhad been boasting of new-found wealth, much to the annoyance of his wife, and perhaps deadly jealousy of the other members…

Luckily for Cressida, eminent historian Sir James Colston, friend of the family, arrives at the mansion with tantalising information on the whereabouts of the rest of the Saxon gold. He promises to tell all, but the very next day he collapses into his morning porridge…

To Cressida’s horror, Marian -Bob’s widow and her parents’ cook – is accused of poisoning both the porridge and Bob’s sandwich and is carted off to jail. But Cressida is sure the answers are buried in the past. Just how far would a history boffin or a hard-up local go for an ancient pot of gold? And can Cressida dig up the truth before poison worms its way into her family’s kitchen again?

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It’s my turn on the blog tour for Death in an English Village, the new enjoyable novel by Fliss Chester.

Death In An English Village is the seventh book in which the Honourable Cressida Fawcett finds herself solving a murder with the help of her pug Ruby. This time the murder is close to home, at her parents’ mansion in Sussex, and the victim is their gardener Bob. Initially it seems that Bob died of natural causes while eating his lunch, but Cressida is not so convinced, especially because she found him clutching in his hand a gold coin that could be linked to a missing Anglo-Saxon hoard which the local historical society is actively looking for. While everyone thinks that the killer is his wife Marianne, Cressida is convinced of her innocence and is determined to prove it with the help of her best friend Dotty and her brother (and Cressida’s possible future husband) Alfred, and DI Andrews and DS Kirby also arrive from London to help.

I quite enjoy this series. It is set in the 1920s and it features intriguing mysteries and a cast of engaging and likable characters. Cressida Fawcett is a wonderful protagonist. A young woman who loves her independence and is opposed to marriage, although a charming and understanding Alfred seems to be making huge steps in changing her mind; she is a fantastic interior designer and her two big loves are her puppy Ruby and her car, a Bugatti. She lives in London, but she is back to her parents’ house to introduce them to Ruby’s puppies, who create havoc among the staff and hilarious scenes in the story. The mystery left me guessing until the end, but Cressida’s investigative skills prove that she is an amazing sleuth. I can’t wait for her next investigation!

A huge thank you to Sarah Hardy and Bookouture for inviting me to join the book tour.

Fliss Chester lives in Surrey with her husband and writes historical cozy crime. When she is not killing people off in her 1940s whodunnits, she helps her husband, who is a wine merchant, run their business. Never far from a decent glass of something, Fliss also loves cooking (and writing up her favourite recipes on her blog), enjoying the beautiful Surrey and West Sussex countryside and having a good natter.

https://www.instagram.com/flisschester/

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Fliss Chester here: https://www.bookouture.com/fliss-chester

Publication: 24th April 2025 – Simon & Schuster UK

The brilliantly escapist and gloriously romantic new summer read from million-copy Sunday Times bestselling author Heidi Swain!

Summer is in full swing when Daisy drives back into Wynmouth in her almost-clapped-out car, having left both her most recent job and the man her parents thought she was going to marry. Coming home could be just what she needs to move her life on.  

At Wynbrook Manor, things are in disarray. Owner Algy isn’t getting any younger, and Daisy’s mum Janet, housekeeper at the manor, spends her days running around after him, while Daisy’s dad Robin, the gardener, has been let down by the person he had lined up to take care of the new cut-flower garden.

As Daisy tries to find her place at Wynbrook and in the village, she’s drawn to summer visitor Josh. But when he turns out to be not the person he appears to be, will the spark between them fizzle out? And with it, the chances of this turning into the best summer ever?

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I read Best Summer Ever back in January and it made me dream of the sea, summer, fantastic friendships, and wonderful romance. Also, experience has taught me that if you are looking for uplifting and immersive stories you can’t ever go wrong with a Heidi Swain’s novel.

The protagonist of the novel is Daisy who is returning home to Wynmouth after quitting the job she didn’t like and leaving the cheating boyfriend who was trying to turn her into the perfect girlfriend. Daisy doesn’t know what to do with her life yet and she has never been good at sticking to jobs or boyfriends, something that caused a kind of rift with her parents, so she is not expecting a warm welcome from them. After an unexpected encounter with a handsome and charming and yet annoying American backpacker who keeps turning up wherever she goes, Daisy settles down back at home and even though her relationship with her parents is strained, she can count on her two best friends, Penny and Nick, and Algy, the owner of Wynbrooke Manor. 

Best Summer Ever is a charming, escapist, and entertaining story of self-discovery. Daisy’s return to Wynmouth leads her to reconnect with her friends, embark on a new romance, trying to solve her differences with her parents, and maybe finally finding her dream job. I loved the setting of Wynmouth, with its beautiful scenery and picturesque locations, and the cast of characters is relatable and likable. I can’t recommend it enough! Best Summer Ever is a heartwarming story that will take you right into the summer!

A huge thank you to SJV and Simon & Schuster UK for a proof of this delightful novel.

Heidi Swain is a Sunday Times Top Ten best-selling author who writes feel good fiction for Simon & Schuster. She releases two books a year (early summer and winter) and the stories all have a strong sense of community, family and friendship. She is currently writing books set in three locations – the Fenland town of Wynbridge, Nightingale Square in Norwich and Wynmouth on the Norfolk coast, as well as summer standalone titles. Heidi lives in beautiful west Norfolk. She is passionate about gardening, the countryside, collecting vintage paraphernalia and reading. Her tbr pile is always out of control! Heidi loves to chat with her readers and you can get in touch via her website or on social media.

Publication: 27th March 2025 – Raven Books

The Maid meets Only Murders in the Building in this twist-packed cosy mystery set in the smallest residential square in London.

Marchfield Square was meant to be a haven from the outside world. A place for those who need somewhere safe from their pasts, or who could otherwise not afford to stay in the city they call home. That was Celeste Van Duren’s plan. One of her tenants being murdered in his own kitchen, and the police trying to pin it on his long-suffering wife, was not.

So Celeste does what anyone with a lot of money, a strong sense of justice and a bad hip would do: she recruits some help to track down the real murderer. Her cleaner, Audrey, knows everyone in the square and is liked by all, while failed crime writer, Lewis, is known by no one. He hates his job, hates his life, and he’s not that fond of Audrey either, but Celeste is persuasive. In theory his knowledge of police procedure and her way with people should help them find the killer – if they don’t kill each other first…

Despite their differences the two soon discover the victim’s dodgy art deals may hold the key to the mystery – but have they missed something closer to home? After all, how well do you really know your neighbours?

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I really enjoyed 10 Marchfield Square, truly an excellent debut! Well-written, clever, and entertaining, I was hooked from the first to the last page. I loved the wonderful cast of characters, the intriguing mystery, and the setting of the gated community was well-thought.

The story is told from the perspective of three characters. First of all, 82-year-old Celeste Van Duren, the formidable owner of Marchfield Square who, from her window, watches over all her tenants. Then there is Audrey, smart and with a bit of a mysterious past, the friendly neighbour everyone likes, who cleans Celeste’s house every Friday. And finally, Lewis, the crime writer with a bestseller novel under his belt and two unsuccessful sequels that forced him to accept a job he hates while he spends all his free time trying to write a new book. He is the antisocial guy in flat 5 who’s been living there for years, but no one knows. Until, one day, a scream is heard in front of flat 10 where the body of its tenant, Richard Glead, is found shot in the chest. Everyone (except Lewis with his noise-cancelling headphones) knew that Richard was a bad man who used to beat up his wife Linda, so no one is sorry for his death, but when the police starts to look to Linda as his killer, Celeste asks Audrey and Lewis to investigate for her and find out who killed Richard. Celeste may have ulterior motives to team up Audrey and Lewis, but as the two dig deeper into the lives not only of the Gleads, but also the other tenants, they discover that they may not truly know their neighbours.

I found 10 Marchfield Square a fun and refreshing read. The story is full of twists, I was completely immersed in the mystery, and Audrey and Lewis make a fantastic duo of sleuths. I loved the ending and it gave me hope for more Audrey and Lewis’s investigations.

A huge thank you to Raven Books and NetGalley for a proof of this gripping novel.

After studying Drama at university, Nicola Whyte worked as a bookseller for several years before going on to work in the digital department at Waterstones. She now runs a small digital agency in the West Country. She was shortlisted for the 2023 Comedy Women in Print Prize and her work has also been listed in the Cheshire Novel Prize (twice), the BPA First Novel Award, and Mslexia, while 10 Marchfield Square was named as first runner up in the 2023 Daily Mail First Novel Award. Nicola lives near Stonehenge with her family.

Publication: 27th March 2025 – MichaelJoseph

‘Who are you, Miss Austen, but a young lady of little experience and no consequence?’

Welcome to Godmersham Park, 1797.

Following many years apart, Jane Austen is set to spend the summer with her estranged brother, Neddy.

As heir to wealthy widow Mrs Knight’s fortune, it is imperative that Neddy stays in his benefactor’s good graces.

But upon arrival in Kent, Jane quickly realises Neddy is in dire need of her help.

For a mysterious young woman named Eleanor currently resides with Mrs Knight – a stranger who threatens to swindle the inheritance for herself.

Jane must uncover who Mrs Knight’s guest really is, to protect the fate of her entire family. When she discovers a series of threatening letters meant for Eleanor, her investigation takes an unexpected turn.

Because the dangers aren’t just within the walls of Godmersham Park. Jane knows someone else is out there watching, waiting – but for what?

Is this curious Eleanor friend, or foe? And can Jane solve the mystery, before danger comes for them all?

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I have been waiting to read this second book in the Miss Austen Investigates series since last year when, at the end of the first novel, I read its first chapter promising more intriguing adventures for my favourite author and I wasn’t disappointed.

A Fortune Most Fatal starts with the young author on her way to visit her brother Edward “Neddy” Knight Austen. Jane’s brother, Edward, had attracted the affection of the family’s wealthy relatives, the Knights, who, being childless, adopted him when he was about sixteen years old, making him the sole heir of their estate. In A Fortune Most Fatal, Jane is going to stay with her brother to help his wife before the birth of their fourth child. Usually, it’s her sister Cassandra who is called in these times of need, but she is grieving the death of her fiancé so the responsibility has fallen on Jane. And, it’s not that everyone would have preferred Cassandra that bothers Jane or that her sister-in-law, Elizabeth, is determined to find her a husband (if only Jane would behave in the proper manner of a lady), but it’s the presence of a mysterious young woman that may threaten Neddy’s inheritance from the Knights that keeps Jane’s mind occupied. 

A young woman has been found on the beach near Godmersham Park. She claims to be a Spanish princess who’s been kidnapped and the recently widowed Mrs. Knights has taken her under her protection, preventing anyone from getting close to her, including her own son. Jane is determined to find out the truth, but as her investigation uncovers dark secrets, she wonders not only if the young woman is a fraud or if she is a victim, but who, among those close to her, she can trust.

I loved this second book even more than the first one. Set in 1797, Jane is working on her latest manuscript, The Sisters, which will later become her first published novel, Sense & Sensibility. She is worried about her sister Cassandra who she left in deep grief over the death of her fiancé, while Jane herself is still thinking about Tom Lefroy, the man she loves, but that she can’t marry. Jane is smart, witty, and quite curious, always full of questions and opinions that sometimes annoy those around her, but won’t stop her from getting to the truth.

Brilliantly-written, entertaining, and immersive, A Fortune Most Fatal has a cast of wonderful characters and a mystery that is darker than I expected, but that left me glued to the pages and looking forward to another Jane Austen’s investigation.

A huge thank you to MichaelJoseph and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of the novel in exchange of my honest opinion.

Jessica Bull grew up in South East London, where she still lives with her husband, two daughters, and far too many pets. She’s addicted to stories and studied English Literature at Bristol University, and Information Science at City University, London. She began work as a librarian (under the false impression she could sit and read all day), before becoming a communications consultant.

Her debut novel, Miss Austen Investigates, has sold in eighteen territories and counting. A Fortune Most Fatal is the highly-anticipated second book in the series.

Publication: 13th February 2025 – Usborne Publishing Ltd

From the bestselling author of This Book Kills comes a deadly new YA thriller of murder, mystery and mind-blowing twists. Perfect for fans of Holly Jackson and Karen M. McManus.

Seventeen-year-old Kay left her sleepy hometown after the devastating death of her friend, Ivy. But when Kay is forced to come back, she receives an anonymous letter that turns her life upside down.

The letter tells her that there will be a thrill on Tuesday, a wreckage on Wednesday, treachery on Thursday, a fire on Friday, sabotage on Saturday, a stabbing on Sunday – and her murder on Monday.

And if Kay can’t figure out who is behind the threats, the worst day of the week is about to get deadly…

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This was an intriguing and clever read. There are threatening letters from a mysterious “Monday”, a death that may not have been accidental, and a young woman determined to find out the truth.

Seventeen-year-old Kay is back in the small village of Longrove a year after she left it with her family. First the death of her friend Ivy in what was considered an accident and then the death from cancer of her aunt Sandra, who always treated her more like a daughter than her own mother did, led her family to move to London. Longrove is a sleepy town run by the sinister town Committee and now Kay is back to stay with her uncle and her cousin Nikki while her parents are enjoying a week away to celebrate their anniversary. However, on her first day back there, Kay finds a message on her bed in which someone, who signs themselves as “Monday”, describes a series of threats for her that will end with her death the following Monday. And as each threat takes place, Kay needs to figure out who is behind it with the help of her aunt’s notebooks and murder boards. From her cousin Nikki to her former best friends Mickey and Sophie, Kay’s list of suspects includes everyone in town and, as the threats become more dangerous and people start dying, Kay needs to figure out who “Monday” is and if their plan is connected to the death of her friend Ivy a year earlier.

I must admit that I had a bit of a slow-start in reading Mondays Are Murder, but as the pace picked up and the characters became more vivid and the story more suspenseful, I found myself completely immersed in the plot, the interesting characters, and the surprising twists. I liked being drawn into the mystery and trying to solve it together with Kay and her friends. Mondays Are Murder is the second book I’ve read by Ravena Guron, I like her writing and I am looking forward to her next story!

A huge thank you to Usborne and NetGalley for a proof of this novel in exchange of my honest review.

Ravena Guron has fast cemented her position as the go-to bestselling, award-winning author of highly-original YA killer thrillers, which combine pacy, twist-packed plots with deeper themes, including race, privilege and class. This Book Kills was the bestselling YA debut thriller of 2023, and has now won and been shortlisted for over ten awards, including the British Book Awards’ Children’s Fiction book of the year 2024.

Publication: 14th March 2025 – Boldwood Books

Nobody should be in the market… for murder!

Even though its famous opera house has shuttered its doors for the war, Covent Garden remains one of the most exciting, bustling areas of London. It’s where Hannah Merrill and Aunt Violet have their bookshop and, in spite of the recent spate of burglaries in the area, it’s generally thought to be a good neighbourhood.

So Hannah is surprised when she sees a fellow shopkeeper – a jeweller named Jacob Cornelis – having a heated argument with a stranger. Especially when the next day Cornelis is found dead in his shop, apparently the victim of another burglary.

But what shocks Hannah more is when she meets the policeman supposedly there to investigate the crime. Because he is none other than the man who Hannah saw arguing with Cornelis the day before.

Hannah knows it’s up to her and Violet to investigate. But they don’t know they’re about to uncover a secret underworld of theft, murder and blackmail. And they must act fast, before the Covent Garden Killer strikes again…

A gripping and unputdownable Golden Age cozy crime mystery, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Helena Dixon and Verity Bright.

Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/MurderCoventGarden

It’s my turn on the blog tour for Murder in Covent Garden, the new fantastic mystery by Anita Davison, out today!

The Miss Merril and Aunt Violet series is one of my favourite historical series. I enjoy the mysteries and the suspense and I like that the protagonists are two independent women, a young woman and her aunt who owns a bookshop in Covent Garden.

In Murder in Covent Garden, a series of burglaries have the police running around in search of the thieves, until one burglary ends in murder. Hannah and her aunt Violet knew the victim, the owner of a jewelry shop near them who frequently visited their bookshop, so, of course, they involve themselves in the investigation of his murder, especially since Hannah had seen him just a few hours before his death arguing with a man who turns out to be one of the detectives involved in the investigation. Was he just the victim of a burglary gone wrong or his murder had nothing to do with it?

There are also other things keeping Hannah busy: a nosy and ambitious journalist who keeps popping up; the return of a man from her aunt’s past that could maybe put in trouble her aunt’s relationship with detective Aidan and her aunt herself who seems to be keeping secrets from her; and then her fiancé Darius who was once very supportive, but, now that they are engaged, he doesn’t seem to approve of her independence or her interest in solving murders. 

Easily read as a stand-alone, Murder in Covent Garden is set in the summer of 1917. The war in Europe is in the backdrop, though very much present, with men being conscripted, war rationing, and even Hannah and Darius waiting for the end of the war to get married. While the mystery is intriguing and captivating, I also enjoyed all the personal drama in the protagonists’ lives. I am already looking forward to the next book in the series!

A huge thank you to Rachel and Boldwood Books for inviting me to take part in the blog tour.

Anita was brought up in London, a city with a history that has always fascinated her and influenced her first attempts at writing. Her first three novels featured a 17th Century West Country family on the losing side of the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685. Other previous work includes an Edwardian Cosy Mystery series featuring amateur sleuth, Flora Maguire set in early 20th Century London and Cheltenham. Anita’s most recent work is the Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet Mysteries set in WWI from Boldwood Books.

Twitter: @AnitaSDavison

Instagram: @anitadavison3740

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

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/anita-davison

Publication: 6th February 2025 – Corvus

Right girl. Wrong Earl.

Lydia Hope-Wallace’s secret life as the anonymous author of rebellious political pamphlets has led her into a correspondence with the charming Earl of Strathrannoch. When she learns he’s in dire financial straits, Lydia sets out for Scotland to offer him a marriage of convenience – to, erm, herself.

Arthur Baird, Earl of Strathrannoch is stunned when a bewitching stranger offers him her hand in marriage. But when he realizes that his traitorous brother has been writing to her under his name, he’s bloody furious.

Desperate to track down his estranged sibling, Arthur needs Lydia’s help. What he doesn’t need? The attraction that burns hotter each moment they spend together. As Lydia slips past his defences, Arthur will have to risk everything to keep her safe – even his heart…

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FOYLES

Earl Crush was such a fun and witty read. There is a socially anxious heroine who pukes in the plants when she has to attend a ball, but who writes strong political pamphlets that seem to have drawn the interest of an earl. There is also a big strong Scottish hero, a fake marriage, and a chase around the country in search of a possibly dangerous weapon. I couldn’t put it down!

The protagonist, Lydia, is an heiress, but her shyness has made for disastrous Seasons and she is still a wallflower. Her solution is to propose a marriage of convenience to the Earl of Strathrannoch, with whom she’s been corresponding about politics for the last three years and who is in financial trouble. However, when she reaches his Scottish castle, she finds out that not only it’s overrun by zebras, but also that the man she’s been corresponding with is not the earl, but his younger brother, who’s now run off with a deadly weapon. The real Earl of Strathrannoch, Arthur, had no idea that his brother has been using his name and now asks for Lydia’s help in finding him before he does something irreparable.

Earl Crush is my second novel by Alexandra Vasti and she’s quickly becoming a favourite. I enjoy her writing style and her characters are entertaining and interesting. Lydia is very introverted, but also smart and determined, not afraid to put herself in danger for the sake of others; Arthur is grumpy and gets easily annoyed, but he can also be caring and kind. I also liked the secondary characters, especially the interfering servants. There is swoony romance and also suspense with a few twists and I loved how each chapter starts with an extract from letters. Highly recommended!

A huge thank you to Rachel and Corvus Books for inviting me to join the blog tour in exchange for my honest opinion.

Alexandra Vasti loves coffee, beignets, and books, in no particular order. She is the author of Ne’er Duke Well and the Halifax Hellions series. In between writing swoony Regency romances with hijinks and heart, she teaches British and Caribbean literature in New Orleans.

Social Media Links – https://www.instagram.com/alexandravasti/ – @alexandravasti

Publication: 4th March 2025 – Headline

Finlay Donovan is no stranger to skeletons in the closet . . .
But this murder is too close to home.

Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime, Vero, have not always gotten along with their elderly neighbour, Mrs. Haggerty – the community busybody and president of the neighbourhood watch.

But when a dead body is discovered in her backyard and her house becomes an active crime scene, there’s nowhere for her to stay . . . except at Finlay’s, right across the street.

Finlay and Vero have no interest in getting mixed up in another murder case – or in sharing their beds with Mrs Haggerty. But when police suspicions land on Finlay’s ex-husband, Steven, they’re left with no choice.

For everything to stay buried, they’ll need to get nosy about this neighbour and unearth her secrets. Before the police start digging up theirs.

From New York Times bestseller Elle Cosimano, comes Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave – the hugely anticipated next instalment in her fan-favourite murder mystery romcom series.

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I am always delighted when a new Finlay Donovan book comes out because I already know that it will be fun, intriguing, and I won’t be able to put it down (I read Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave in one night!).

After hiding bodies and being blackmailed by the Russian mafia, things seem to have calmed down for single mother and bestselling author Finlay Donovan. And, even though her elderly busy body neighbour, Mrs. Haggerty, has been arrested after a body has been found buried in her backyard, Finlay is convinced that the matter doesn’t really concern her. Can she finally relax and enjoy her relationship with her charming hot cop boyfriend, Nick? Of course not, because first Mrs. Haggerty is left in her care after being released from prison and, then, her own ex-husband is arrested. Finlay and her partner-in-crime/live-in nanny/accountant Vero have no choice but to get involved in the case, by breaking into other people’s houses and following Mrs. Haggerty in the middle of the night as she leaves seemingly innocuous notes in the neighbours’ mailboxes, while also dealing with her five-year-old daughter being suspended from school, her toddler pot-training and running around all naked, and Mrs. Haggerty continuous demands. And, of course, there are also the secrets she keeps hiding from Nick. 

I love this series so much. It’s hilarious, smart, and full of chaos and banter. The characters are wonderful and the stories are all well-written and addictive with the right mix of mystery and drama, romance and comedy and a cliffhanger that makes you wish for the next book right away! Highly recommended! 

A huge thank you to Headline and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this fantastic novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

ELLE COSIMANO is an award-winning author. Her YA debut, Nearly Gone, was an Edgar Award finalist and winner of the International Thriller Award. Her novel Holding Smoke was a finalist for the International Thriller Award and the Bram Stoker Award. Her essays have appeared in The Huffington Post and Time. Elle lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with her husband, two sons, and her dog. Finlay Donovan Is Killing It is her adult debut.