Ghosted by Sarah Ready (2023)

Jillian Nejat is the only dating and relationship expert on the planet who is incapable of speaking to men. If they’re living, if they’re breathing, it’s game over.

With her bank account at zero, her career a dumpster fire, and her dating life in a ten-year slump, she moves into a tiny, dirt-cheap NYC apartment.

Unfortunately, the apartment is already occupied.

Daniel (no-last-name) is a sexy, shirtless, six-pack wielding heartthrob who is also…dead.

He isn’t living. He isn’t breathing. He’s a ghost. He’s also the only man on the planet who Jillian can talk to.

Soon, Daniel’s convinced that it’s his afterlife mission to resurrect Jillian’s love life. He knows, if he helps her fall in love then he can move on. Jillian agrees. The last thing she needs is a Lothario ghost haunting her living room.

But then, one practice date leads to another, one confession leads to more, and suddenly Jillian fears she’s falling for the one man she can never have.

Ghosted is the first book in the series with the fourth being published in October 2024. Being a paranormal romance and book one featuring a ghost it's the perfect quirky book series to kick off the autumn season and the runup to Halloween.

The story centres around Jillian who writes a terrible dating advice column She's a complete disaster around men in her real life and she's a Trekkie who speaks Klingon. 

 After moving into a new apartment she finds an unwanted extra tenant in the form of Daniel, a ghost. But, luckily for her, Daniel can see past her weird obsession with Star Trek and vows to help her with her love life and her job in the belief that it will help him to move on. 

The interactions between Jillian and Daniel are hilarious from the get-go. Daniel doesn't remember much about himself except for a few snippets of his last memories. But, his personality shines through and he is so adorable in his reactions to Jillian's various dates. Jillian finds herself opening up to him and we learn the sad reason why she finds it so hard to talk to men. It is moments like this that the story hits you in the feels only to be laughing out loud at something Daniel says or does soon afterwards. They made great friends and I could foresee how adorable they would be as a couple but I couldn't help but wonder how they would resolve the issue of Daniel being a ghost.

There's hope for a happy ever when help from a psychic, a scientist friend, and Jillian's eccentric work colleagues spur Jillian on in a race against time to save Daniel.

This was such a cute and riveting story that I couldn't put it down. It is charmingly romantic, funny and addictive. It touches upon themes of loss and grief but it does so in such a relatable way and with a heartwarming effect. 

 A fun and uplifting story. 

I listened to the audiobook as I really want to catch up on the series before the fourth book is published in October.

I wholeheartedly recommend the audiobook. Excellently narrated and an engaging listen. The second epilogue with the lovely male narrator made me want to listen to the book all over again. 

buy Links

Amazon UK   Audible UK

A Corpse in Christmas Close: (The Iris Woodmore Mysteries Book 5) by Michelle Salter Blog Tour

                                         
 

A Corpse in Christmas Close

When a pantomime turns deadly, Iris investigates a cast of killers…

Christmas, 1923. When reporter Iris Woodmore is sent to cover the Prince of Wales’ visit to historic Winchester, she discovers more than just royal gossip.

The leading lady in Winchester Cathedral’s charity pantomime is found dead in mysterious circumstances. And the chief suspect is Cinderella’s handsome prince, played by Percy Baverstock’s younger brother, Freddie.

For the sake of the Baverstocks, Iris must investigate the murder, even though it means confronting an old enemy. And as the line between friend and foe blurs dangerously, she’s ensnared by someone she hoped she’d never see again…

Everyone's favourite amateur sleuth returns for a Christmas mystery, perfect for fans of Verity Bright, Claire Gradidge and Emily Organ

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

A Corpse on Christmas Close is another charming addition to her Iris Woodmore series, set in 1920s England, with the Christmas pantomime and its cast at the centre of the murder of the leading lady. There are plenty of suspects and clues for Iris to follow, but Freddie is most in need of her sleuthing as he is the prime suspect.

Iris gets caught up in a tangled thread and plenty of red herrings as she unravels the events before the murder. 

There is quite a bit of humour sprinkled throughout the story. I particularly enjoyed the scene where she meets the Prince of Wales. It was cute and funny.

Iris is a modern working woman, being a newspaper journalist, and she has an equally modern love life to match it. She isn't obsessed with finding a husband and having babies which is refreshing to read. She is young and has fun getting to know men and enjoying flirtations. She has loyal male friends and maybe that's where the lightning bolt of love will eventually strike. 

A Corpse on Christmas Close will appeal to fans of cozy mysteries and historical fiction. With its engaging characters, engaging plot, and festive setting, it's the perfect book to curl up with on a cold winter's day.

I recommend reading this great series in the correct order for best enjoyment and to get to know the recurring characters.

Iris Woodmore Mystery Series

1 Death at Crookham Hall (2023)

     aka The Suffragette's Daughter

2 Murder at Waldenmere Lake (2023)

3 The Body at Carnival Bridge (2023)

4 A Killing at Smugglers Cove (2023)

5 A Corpse in Christmas Close (2024)

6 A Murder at Mill Ponds (2025)

Author Bio  

Michelle Salter writes historical cosy crime set in Hampshire, where she lives, and inspired by real-life events in 1920s Britain. Her Iris Woodmore series draws on an interest in the aftermath of the Great War and the suffragette movement.

An Irish Bookshop Murder (A Mercy McCarthy Mystery Book 1) by Lucy Connelly. Narrated by: Kimberly Wetherell

Meet Ireland’s newest daring detective: she’s a bookstore owner, a coffee lover, and a crime writer. Now Mercy McCarthy needs a little Irish luck as she takes on her first case!

After receiving unexpected inheritance from her grandfather, Mercy and her twin sister Lizzie are now the proud owners of a charming antique bookshop in the tiny Irish village of Shamrock Cove. But before they can take in the beautiful view of the sea, one of their neighbours drops dead!

Mercy finds the Judge, a well-respected man who lives next door, dying on his own doorstep. She rushes to help, but with his final words, he accuses Mercy of murder! Most of their new neighbours hear his words and, with suspicion pointing at Mercy, she decides to investigate the case to clear her name.

Searching amongst the Judge’s old books, Mercy uncovers letters proving several of the townsfolk had reason to dislike the older man—but was it the local pub landlord, the kindly cook or neighbourly knitter who killed him?

Then Mercy’s chief suspect turns up dead and she receives a threatening note, typed on paper from her own bookstore… Ireland was supposed to be a fresh start for Mercy and Lizzie, but dead bodies keep turning up.

Does Mercy have what it takes to nail the culprit or will the killer close the book on her time in this charming Irish village?

An Irish Bookshop Murder is a cute small-town mystery. Lucy and her twin sister have a very intriguing and tragic background. There is a lot more to be unfolded in relation to their past and with Lucy's stalker and enough to keep the reader wanting to read the next book to find out more.

The mystery is slow-moving and a little meandering but it is a light easy read.

I listened to the audiobook and found the narration very good. The narrator did not go heavy on the fake Irish accent which made it easier on my ears and a pleasant listen. I would choose to listen to the audio for the next in the series.

I was disappointed in the research that went into this book. The first thing I noticed was that Lucy's first response to a man having convulsions or what could have been a seizure was to stick a spoon into his mouth. I learnt as a child not to do that and it has been reinforced in every first aid course I've done since the 90s. Not one person questioned her on it.

There is a general lack of authenticity in relation to the setting- Ireland. I would call it an Amerian  or Hallmark idea of what Ireland is. Thankfully no leprechauns or four leaf clovers make an appearance although the town is called Shamrock Cove. It reads like every other small town in cozy mysteries except with the odd sprinkling of things associated with our fair isle e.g. we all have fairy houses in our gardens (snort). I appreciated that the locals weren't eating cabbage and bacon but I was disappointed at how the wakes were portrayed.

Also, I couldn't understand why a detective was policing a small crime-free town. It would have made more sense for him to be referred to as Garda whatever his name was and for him to be stationed at the local Garda station instead of wasting his time delivering parcels. And when Lucy rang  999 for emergency services which covers police, ambulance and coast guard- the call went directly to his mobile phone! come on now.

Purchase links

Audible   Amazon UK

A Rose Among Thorns (Hall of Thorns, Book 1) by Ash Fitzsimmons (BLOG TOUR)

 

A Rose Among Thorns by Ash Fitzsimmons

2nd place Book Bloggers' Novel of the Year Award 2023

About BBNYA

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

Book Details

Length: 179 pages

Genre: Fantasy

Age Category: Adult

Date Published: 19 April 2022

Amazon Links: Canada USA UK

Goodreads

The StoryGraph

Blurb

 Rose Thorn should never be left unsupervised around plants. Potted things tend to die around her as if on principle. But when her great-aunt calls and asks Rose to watch her garden nursery for a few days, Rose can hardly say no. After all, Aunt Lily is the closest thing Rose has to a grandmother — and the only family she has left — so Rose doesn’t mind driving out to her tiny mountain town to look after the place.

Aunt Lily never mentioned anything about an inspection, however.

Rose is taken aback when an agent from an organization she’s never heard of arrives and panics to find Aunt Lily missing. As it turns out, Aunt Lily hasn’t been entirely straight with Rose. She’s not visiting a sick friend — she’s in danger and on the run. She keeps a hidden greenhouse on the property in which she grows highly regulated magical plants. And she’s an elf…as was Rose’s grandfather.

Though stunned to witness magic at work and shocked that no one ever divulged the family secret, Rose refuses to abandon the nursery until her great-aunt is safely home. But as she and the agent, now awkward housemates, try to keep up their cover story and find the missing grower, they realize that whatever led to Aunt Lily’s disappearance might not be the only magical crime in progress.

And while Rose has no green thumb, another talent of hers may be budding…

A Rose Among Thorns was my favourite book from the 2023 Book Bloggers' Novel of the Year Awards and I was delighted that it placed so highly.

A Rose Among Thorns is a delightful urban fantasy with mystery and romance. This enchanting tale introduces us to Rose, a young woman thrown into a world of magic, mystery, and ancient secrets.

When Rose is tasked with looking after her great-aunt's flower nursery, she discovers a hidden realm of magic and mythical creatures. The nursery isn't just a place for plants; it's a portal to another world. 

When Rose receives an inspection from the magical Department of Plants and Potion she realises that all is not as it appears to be. Her great aunt is actually missing and in danger and the nursery has a life of its own. As Rose delves deeper into this magical realm in search of her aunt, she uncovers a dangerous plot that threatens to destroy everything she knows.

I loved the quick pace of this book and how easy it was to like the characters and follow their adventure. My favourite aspect was the nursery plants and how they protected Rose. The story is lighthearted and humorous with thrilling scenes and a touch of romance.  

 A Rose Among Thorns is whimsical and thrilling, with vivid world-building, and endearing characters. Rose is strong and determined and her journey is filled with unexpected twists and turns. It kept me engaged from beginning to end and left me feeling excited to read the subsequent books in the series.

A Rose Among Thorns is a must-read; a perfect blend of magic, mystery, heart and romance.

Author Bio

When not writing, Ash Fitzsimmons is an unrepentant car singer. She is the author of several contemporary fantasy series: Stranger Magics, The Crossing, Hall of Thorns, and its sequel series, The Wild Hunt. A second sequel series, Fortune's Child, will be released in 2024. You can find her at ashfitzsimmons.com.

The Body in the Bookstore (A Secret Bookcase Mystery 1) by Ellie Alexander

Behind the shelves of The Secret Bookcase, where the sun slants through the windows onto rows of classic crime novels, a body lies...

Bookseller Annie Murray is thrilled when the mystery-themed book festival she sets up to revive the dwindling fortunes of her workplace and sanctuary seems poised for success. But events take a shocking turn when a body is discovered hidden behind the shelves, and it’s revealed that the victim is Annie's old college acquaintance.

Determined to ensure the festival’s success and save the small town of Redwood Grove from a killer, Annie begins piecing together clues with the help of her friends. But as the list of suspects grows longer – a local boutique-owner, an envious old classmate, a bitter ex-boyfriend – Annie is drawn deeper into the case.

With the aid of her old criminology professor-turned-detective, can Annie unmask the murderer before they turn her festival into a real-life whodunit?

Full of lovable, quirky characters and small-town charm, The Body in the Bookstore serves up an irresistible blend of intrigue for fans of cozy crime including Lauren Elliott, Merryn Allingham and M.C. Beaton.

The Body in the Bookstore is the first book in an intriguing new series by Ellie Alexander.  The quaint setting and interesting characters made this a charming read. 

I loved all the literary and book-themed references and the cosy bookstore setting. When a murder occurred during a mystery-themed festival I was hooked. The victim had plenty of enemies and managed to annoy a lot of people, including Annie, before her death. As Annie had some experience in criminology it seemed only natural that she would feel the urge to investigate for herself. What she discovered about the victim and the motive behind her killing took me completely by surprise.

The secondary, long-time mystery of who killed Annie's best friend has me curious about what she will discover as the series progresses.

I listened to the audio copy of this book and would recommend it. The narrator does a great job of bringing the characters to life.

buy links

Amazon UK

Waterstones

Audible

A Scottish Highland Hideaway (Scottish Escapes, Book 7) by Julie Shackman

 

A Scottish Highland Hideaway

A brand new autumnal story of love, believing in yourself and starting over set in the Scottish Highlands

For Bailey McArthur, her family and job mean everything. She runs her own floristry shop and loves spending time in nature in the pretty town of Heather Moore, whilst desperately trying to forget about being jilted on her wedding day.

When journalist Zach Stern arrives in town asking questions about a famous actor, Bailey decides to throw him off the trail of the superstar hiding out in the Scottish Highlands.

But despite Bailey’s efforts to thwart Zach's investigation, she finds herself falling for him. It’s just a shame she can’t be honest with him. But then, Bailey might not be the only one with a secret to hide…

Purchase links

Amazon UK           Amazon US

A Scottish Highland Hideaway is a charming autumnal escape to the Scottish countryside following Bailey and Zach in a cute enemies-to-lovers story.

Bailey hides her famous identity and party-girl persona by relocating to a quaint little town to reinvent herself after the heartbreaking experience of being left at the altar. She isn't the only famous person hiding out in the area, prompting Zach, the inquisitive journalist to set up camp and ferret out everyone's secrets. 

What follows is romantic comedy gold as Bailey and her brother try to put Zach off the scent. Bailey and Zach can't help their attraction though gradually becoming friends with their frequent interactions.

I loved all the mystery and intrigue surrounding the famous actor, Ezra King and I enjoyed all of Bailey's attempts to help him whether they were received well or not. 

There is also more to Zach than meets the eye. He has his own secrets and agenda at play. Zach is a very likeable character so I had a good feeling about him and I wanted Bailey to open up and trust him with her story.

The pacing in the story is quick and there's never a dull moment. The characters are all very relatable. Even Bailey's mother turns out to be quite funny and endearing. 

A Scottish Highland Hideaway is a lovely heartwarming and entertaining story.

Author Bio – Julie Shackman is a former journalist from Scotland, who has always wanted to write feel-good romance.

As well as being an author, Julie also writes verses and captions for greetings card companies. Julie admits to having an obsession with stationery and handbags.

She is married, has two sons and adopted a Romanian rescue puppy, Cooper.

A Scottish Highland Hideaway is Julie's eleventh novel.

Social Media Links –

Julie Shackman Author

Julie Shackman (@G13Julie) / Twitter

Julie Georgina Shackman (@juliegeorginashackman) • Instagram photos and videos

(2) Julie Georgina Shackman | Facebook

A Lady's Fortune by Jane Dunn (BLOG TOUR)

 

A Lady’s Fortune

In Regency England, twenty-seven-year-old Leonora Appleby is considered by many – herself included – to be beyond her most eligible marrying years. With her childhood home, Hasterleigh Manor, soon to be taken over by the heir to the land, George Lockwood, Leonora has happily resigned herself to a quiet life as a country Miss.

But life has a way of springing surprises and the return of the brooding war hero Earl Rokeby, presumed dead on the French battlefields, to the magnificent neighbouring Rokeby Abbey has the village atwitter with speculation. Earl Rokeby has returned, scarred in mind and body, with news for Leonora’s best friend Charlotte Blythe – news that will change everything.

Now Charlotte and Leonora must travel to Town for the Season and take their futures and fate into their own hands in the whirl of balls, parties and gossip. But will either of them return to Hasterleigh with a husband and a fortune, and what other secrets does the devastatingly dashing Alistair Rokeby have up his silken sleeves…

Sunday Times bestselling author Jane Dunn brings the Regency period irresistibly to life. Perfect for fans of Jane Austen, Janice Hadlow, Gill Hornby, and anyone with a Bridgerton-shaped hole in their lives.

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

A Lady's Fortune will appeal to all fans of Regency and historical romance. It is reminiscent of Austen and better than Julia Quinn's charming Bridgerton series in that the characters have more depth and the story is more emotionally charged. 

I found myself feeling quite sad while reading Earl Rokeby's recollections of his traumatic experiences on the battlefield and his brother's death. He describes the sights and sounds as his brother was dying and the fight continued around them. He included the war horses in his recollection making it very realistic and as if I was reading a first-hand account. He has a great affection for his animals and I loved that about his character.

There is plenty of humour, drama and romance to more than offset the heavier themes of war and grief.

Rokeby and Leonora have a meet cute along the side of the road which reminded me a little bit of Rochester and Jane in Jane Eyre. Although Rokeby is more likeable despite his gruffness, as he is much gentler around Leonora and Charlotte.

I enjoyed the fact that there were two romances woven into the main plot of this book. The story is well paced and entertaining throughout. It's a book that I looked forward to picking up again after the working day. I liked the added drama that the side characters provided. I could see elements of Pride and Prejudice. There is a Caroline Bingley type character and Captain Ormonde reminded me of Mr Wickham as soon as he was introduced. I couldn't wait to see what would transpire from that quarter.

This book is a gorgeous read with main characters I was rooting for all the way. Jane Dunn has become a firm favourite.

Author Bio –

Jane Dunn is an historian and biographer and the author of seven acclaimed biographies, including Daphne du Maurier and her Sisters and the Sunday Times and NYT bestseller, Elizabeth & Mary: Cousins, Rivals, Queens. She lives in Berkshire with her husband, the linguist Nicholas Ostler.

Social Media Links –

Twitter https://twitter.com/JaneDunnAuthor

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

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

Bookbub profile: Jane Dunn Books - BookBub