Loving Spirits at the Vintage Teashop (Ghosts of Rowan Vale, #2) by Sharon Booth

Hello my bookish friends,

Today I am reviewing "Loving Spirits at the Vintage Teashop” the 2nd instalment in Ghosts of Rowan Vale series by Sharon Booth set in the beautiful Cotswold village of Rowan Vale.

The beautiful Cotswold village of Rowan Vale is run as a living museum, allowing tourists to see history in action. But there’s more to the place than any visitor would guess... ✨

Fifty-something Shona grew up in the village and now runs its vintage, 1940s-themed teashop. Not everyone knows that the previous manager, her great-aunt Polly, still lives there too… as a ghost!

When newcomer Max arrives, hoping to find out more about the place where his German grandfather was a prisoner of war, both Shona and Polly are unsettled. Shona, because handsome, interesting Max is the first man to catch her eye since her divorce, and Polly, because she must finally confront the terrible truth about her past.

A 1940s-themed weekend planned for the village brings the families’ connections to a head and tragic secrets to light.

Can Shona help her ghostly great-aunt to find love and forgiveness once more, while also creating her own happy ever after?

The second in the comforting, feel-good, romantic series with a dash of fantasy that started with Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall. ☕️

 

"Loving Spirits at the Vintage Teashop" is a feel-good novel with a unique blend of cozy romance and supernatural mystery. The story is set in the charming Cotswold village of Rowan Vale, where a ghostly great-aunt, Polly, adds a touch of mischief and warmth.

The Cotswold village setting is beautifully described, creating a sense of nostalgia and charm. The intriguing premise and ghostly mystery kept me invested 

The dual-layered mystery is a standout feature, as the protagonist uncovers the truth behind Polly's decades-old murder and its unexpected link to Max, a newcomer tracing his grandfather's wartime past. The slow reveal of secrets gives the book its emotional core and keeps readers engaged in the story. I liked it so much I preordered book 3.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I requested and received an advance readers copy from Boldwood Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!

I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

The Cruel Dark by Bea Northwick

Hello my bookish friends,

Today I am reviewing The Cruel Dark by Bea Northwick.  I found it atmospheric, suspenseful and I just had to know the answers and what happens. I read almost in one sitting. 

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Northwick presents a dark love story that sparkles with elements of gothic horror and more modern romance." - Kirkus Reviews

Millicent Foxboro is haunted.

Not by ghosts, but by the anguish of her past and the uncertainty of her future. After all, even in the progressive year of 1928, most people would balk at hiring a woman who’d spent two months in a mental ward for traumatic amnesia. So when an uncommon assistantship to a reclusive Professor of mythology falls into her lap with an ungodly salary attached, her desperation for stability overrides her cautious nature.

To Millie’s dismay, the widowed Professor Callum Hughes and his estate, Willowfield, are more than she bargained for. The once magnificent home, known for its sprawling gardens and dazzling parties, is falling to pieces after the death of the professor’s fragile wife. What’s more, the staff has been reduced to the only three people not frightened away by rumors of ghosts, leaving the halls empty and languishing in bitter memories.

The professor himself is a grim, intense man with unclear expectations, unpredictable moods, and hungry eyes that ignite Millie’s own dormant passions. The closer she finds herself drawn to Professor Hughes and his strange world of flowers and folklore, the more the house closes in, threatening to reveal her secrets. But the professor is keeping secrets of his own and the most dangerous of all is hers to discover.

I was fully immersed in Millie's journey as she began her new life in Willowfield, uncovering dark secrets and hidden motives. The author skillfully crafted complex characters with concealed traits and agendas, keeping me guessing until the very end.

The slow-burn romance between Millie and Callum was captivating, and the eerie atmosphere of the house added to the sense of foreboding. The twists and turns were expertly handled, leading to a stunning conclusion that left me breathless. I didn't see it coming, and it was absolute perfection! This book is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and suspenseful storytelling.

I will definitely read other books by this author.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Northwick Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!

I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs, 

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Can You Keep A Secret? by Jo Lovett

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing Can You Keep A Secret? by Jo Lovett.  What can I say other than I loved it and read in one day.  Who doesn’t want to escape to an estate in the country.  I have now added the author to my list of RomCom authors I love.

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PRE-ORDER now the new gorgeous rom com by Jo Lovett 

One New Year’s Eve, Georgie James and her friends come up with a genius plan to help them stick to their resolutions… They all write down secrets, seal them in envelopes and then post them to each other. The secrets will be revealed at the end of the year if they haven’t kept their resolutions.

It’s perfect. Except…

Georgie's secret is BIG... and revealing it could destroy their friendships. She has no idea why she chose that one to write down. There are plenty of innocent things she could have said – even admitting she finds newcomer Raf incredibly annoying would have been better.

What she does know is that there’s no way she can let her secret be revealed. Which means she needs to keep her (nightmare) resolutions and, most importantly, get her envelope back before anyone can open it. Which, given she sent her secret to Raf, means spending a lot more time with him than she’d choose to...

A heartwarming romantic comedy for fans of Beth O’Leary and Mhairi McFarlane 

The setting of Melting in the Cotswolds sounded breathtaking, I could picture myself living close to the green, everything in walking distance.  It had everything you could want in a story love, family, friendship and second chances.

I found the characters to be well developed, and multi-dimensional. There were multiple sub-plots of family dynamics Georgie’s as well as Poppy’s new family situation that had you interested in the outcome. I must admit I choked up a bit and was totally invested in Georgie’s and Poppy’s situation and wanting things to work out.

It had me thinking about all the white lies we tell to ourselves and others.  Sometimes you can get so caught up in trying not to hurt someone’s feelings that in the end it can be worse than if you told them to begin with.

Also I could relate to Georgie and her feelings of always being second best , not a nice feeling especially when it’s your parents treating you this way.

I’m hoping there could be a follow up book so we could catch up on the characters. 
I will definitely read other books by this author.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Boldwood Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!

I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs, 

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The Bookshop by the Loch by Julie Shackman

Hello my friends,

Today I am reviewing The Bookshop by the Loch by Julie Shackman the 6th instalment in the Scottish Escape series. What can I say other than I loved it and read in one day. 

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The brand new Scottish spring escape from bestselling author, Julie Shackman

Lexie Dunbar is a book lover. And her favourite place in the world is her local bookstore, Book Ends. So when she hears that it’s going to be sold, Lexie decides she needs to do something to help.

Lexie’s plan to save the ailing shop is fully underway until gorgeous-but-grouchy artist Tobias Black arrives on the scene determined to turn the bookstore into an art gallery. Lexie is horrified, the last thing the quaint town of Bracken Way needs is a pretentious artist, even if he does seem to charm everyone but her.

Tensions continue to rise until Tobias discovers a shocking secret that shows they might have more in common than they realise. As sparks fly, can Lexie and Tobias work together, or will opposing ideas get in the way of them finding their very own happy ever after…

The setting of a tiny town called Bracken Way in the Scottish Highlands sounded enchanting and the Bookstore (one of my favorite places too), I could picture myself spending an afternoon walking along the Loch or up to the castle. 

As with the other books in this series, it had everything you could want in a story love, loss, regret, laughter, sadness, forgiveness, friendships and families.

I found the characters to be well developed, and multi-dimensional. There were multiple sub-plots to keep you engaged and interested in the outcome.

I will definitely read other books by this author.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!

I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs, 

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The Cruise by Caroline James

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “The Cruise” by Caroline James. What can I say other than I really enjoyed it and read in one day.  Who doesn’t want to escape on a cruise with a couple of old friends.

Three women.
One widowed.
One unmarried.
One almost divorced.
All aged 63, but not ready to give up on life!

Leaving behind the heartache, guilt and disappointment of their real lives, three friends decide that now they’re in their sixties, it’s time they finally did something for themselves!

Swapping Christmas turkeys and BBC reruns for crystal waters, white sandy beaches and smooth golden rum, Anne, Jane and Kath throw caution (and tradition) to the wind as they set sail on a luxury two-week Christmas cruise around the Caribbean.

Will the three friends find the comfort and joy they seek aboard the Diamond Star?

When I read the blurb about 3 women in their 60s setting off on a cruise, I knew I had to read this book, especially as I’m almost there myself.  The Cruise is the first book I have read by Caroline James and I can definitely say it won’t be my last.

I found the characters to be well developed, and multi-dimensional.  It’s about being true to yourself,  losing you insecurities and making new friends along the way, what a delightful read.

I will definitely read other books by this author.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from One More Chapter and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!

I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs, 

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The Seaside Library by Brenda Novak

Hello my friends,

Today I am reviewing “ The Seaside Library” by Brenda Novak. I found it different from the last book I read of this authors but I still enjoyed it and read in one day. 

There are secrets that bring friends together, and others that drive them apart…

Mariners Island is barely ten miles long, but when Ivy, Ariana and Cam were teenagers, it was their whole world. Beyond the pristine beaches and iconic lighthouse lies the beautiful old library that belongs to Ivy’s family. While that bound Ivy to the island as an adult, Ariana could not leave Mariners behind fast enough. The town holds too many…memories. Not only her unrequited feelings for Cam, but the tragedy that left a scar on the community.

When a young girl went missing, a teenage Cam was unthinkably the prime suspect. Ariana and Ivy knew he couldn’t have hurt anyone, and they promised to protect him—even if it meant lying on his behalf.

Now, twenty years later, Ariana returns to Mariners just as new evidence emerges on the case, calling into question everything the three friends thought they knew—and everyone they thought they could trust. What really happened that night? Over the course of one eventful summer, Ariana, Ivy and Cam will learn the truth—about their pasts, their futures and the ties that still bind them as closely as the pages of a book…

The story follows three friends — Ivy, Ariana and Cam. It had everything you could want in a story, regret, love, sadness, friendship, forgiveness, and family however that might look.

I found the characters to be well developed, and multi-dimensional. There were multiple sub-plots to keep you engaged and interested. I was able to figure out who murdered Emily about halfway through, but still had to be sure. I liked how the author wrapped everything up neatly and didn’t leave us hanging.

I will definitely read other books by this author.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Harlequin and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!

I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs, 

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The Little Venice Bookshop by Rebecca Raisin

Hello my friends,

Today I am reviewing the "The Little Venice Bookshop” by Rebecca Raisin. I really enjoyed, it was so refreshing and heartfelt.

When Luna loses her beloved mother, she’s bereft: her mother was her only family, and without her Luna feels rootless. Then the chance discovery of a collection of letters in her mother’s belongings sends her on an unexpected journey.

Following a clue in the letters, Luna packs her bags and heads to Venice, to a gorgeous but faded bookshop overlooking the canals, hoping to uncover the truth about her mother’s mysterious past.

Will Luna find the answers she’s looking for – and finally find the place she belongs?

I absolutely loved this book! I found myself engrossed in story, after losing her mother Luna embarks on a journey to discover who her father was. Who wouldn’t want an escape to Venice for few months, but what we wish for is not always what we find, but sometimes we find something even better.  

I found the story to be more about finding your way in the world, family, friendship and yes love.   I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves books and wants a feel good read.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Harlequin and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow book lovers.

Hugs,

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A Scottish Country Escape by Julie Shackman

Hello my friends,

Today I am reviewing A Scottish Country Escape the 4th book  in “The Scottish Escapes series” by Julie Shackman.  What can I say other than I loved it and read in one day. 

Determined to overcome a family tragedy, Elle Cassidy decides to reopen her late mother’s ailing newsagent as a stationery shop in the quiet Scottish town of Fir Haven.

But when the arrogant yet handsome crime writer Dexter Grayling almost runs over Elle in his beast of a sports car, the town is thrown into a tailspin – especially when Dexter claims that local resident Linda Carlucci has put a curse on him and he is no longer able to write.

Can Elle put aside her dislike for the self-absorbed writer and help Dexter uncover what is really going on with the Carlucci family? And in the process will Elle realise that there’s a lot more to her beloved Fir Haven than she first thought…

The setting of a tiny town called Fir Haven in the Scottish Highlands sounded magical and the nature preserve, I could picture myself spending an afternoon walking there.

As with the other books in this series, it had everything you could want in a story love, loss, regret, laughter, sadness, forgiveness, friendships and families.

I found the characters to be well developed, and multi-dimensional. There were multiple sub-plots to keep you engaged and interested in the outcome.

I will definitely read other books by this author.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!

I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs, 

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

The Garden by the Sea by Amanda James

Hello my friends,

Today I am reviewing The Garden by the Sea by Amanda James.   What can I say other than it was a feel-good , light-hearted read and I thoroughly enjoyed it! 

A heartwarming novel of new beginnings, community and finding your tribe when you need them the most…

A precious heirloom passed down from mother to daughter…

Lowena Rowe’s beloved mum always claimed her family seed box was special. Said to contain soil from Tintagel, the mysterious seat of the legendary King Arthur, whomever made a wish upon the box would have ‘a beautiful garden, bountiful crops and love of their fellow man’. Lowena isn’t inclined to believe the myth but can’t part with the box, knowing how much it meant to her mum.

Starting over with a new home and a new job in the Cornish village of St Merryn, Lowena can’t help feeling lost and alone… but she isn’t the only one. Now, as a community of misfits finds solace and friendship in the shade of her growing garden, she realises there might have been truth to the mythical box after all, and she may just be growing the life and love she’s always wanted…

The setting of a Cornish village called St. Merryn, sounded breathtaking! It was heartwarming, full of friendship and community, the perfect read on a cold winters day. 

I literally didn't want to put it down once I'd started it and I finished it in one sitting.  The characters are likeable and you get thoroughly caught up in the story as it unfolds. 

This is a wonderful story and I'll definitely be reading more by this author.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Harpers Collins UK and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!

I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs, 

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An Endless Cornish Summer by Phillipa Ashley

Hello my friends,

The first in a gorgeous new series “A Perfect Cornish Summer” by Phillipa Ashley. I am glad I decided to try a Women's Fiction for a change as it was a very entertaining, fun filled read.

Escape to the seaside with this gorgeous new series from the Sunday Times bestselling author – perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley and Heidi Swain.

Rose Vernon is headed to a quiet Cornish village – to find the man who saved her life. 
 
For Rose, every day is a gift. She narrowly survived a life-threatening illness and owes everything to her anonymous donor. Determined to thank him, Rose follows a trail of clues that lead her to the little Cornish fishing village of Falford. 
 
But things become complicated when Rose is drawn into local life, becoming involved in the legendary Falford Regatta and meeting the handsome Morvah brothers – one of whom might just be the man she’s looking for. But which one? 
 
Can Rose find the answer she’s searching for, or will she lose her heart before the summer is over?

I visited Cornwall 4 years ago the way this is written I was transported back and could picture it in full colour. The author was good at describing the every day life in a Cornish harbour town. Learning about boat building and Cornish myths and legends was fascinating as well.

I found the characters to be well developed, and multi-dimensional. There were lots of twists and turns and multiple sub-plots to keep you engaged and interested in the outcome. I will definitely read other books by this author.

My Rating

I requested and received an advanced readers copy Courtesy of NetGalley and Avon publishing. All opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!

I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

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Summer in the Scottish Highlands by Donna Ashcroft

Hello my friends,

Today I am reviewing Summer in the Scottish Highlands by Donna Ashcroft.   What can I say other than it was a feel-good , light-hearted summer read and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Reminded me of a Hallmark romance movie.

Escape to the gorgeous little village of Lockton in the Scottish Highlands, where you’ll discover sunshine, secrets and an unforgettable romance. It’s the perfect place to be this summer…

Thirty-year-old Paige Dougall’s life is a mess. Only a year ago she was smashing all of her life goals: handsome husband, high-flying job, cute kid. But in just under twelve months everything has gone wrong. Nursing a broken heart, single mother Paige returns to her childhood home in a picture-perfect Scottish village to try and get her life together.

Paige is too wrapped up in her worries to embrace the beautiful rolling hills and lavender-scented air of the highlands. That is until Johnny Becker, the infuriatingly cheerful chef, with his twinkling eyes and dimpled smile, steps onto the scene and provides Paige with some much-needed distraction…

Johnny challenges Paige to step outside her comfort zone and focus on the things that really matter. From food tasting, to puppy training, to mountain climbing, in every moment she spends with Johnny, Paige finds herself remembering how to live again… will she be able to love again too?

Across long sunshine-filled days, Paige and Johnny grow closer and she’s tempted to open her heart to him. But is happy-go-lucky Johnny hiding secrets of his own?

And can Paige learn to let go of her past and find happiness in the highlands?

The setting of a tiny village called Lockton in the Scottish Highlands, sounded breathtaking! It was heartwarming and made me laugh, the perfect read on a rainy summer day. 

 I literally didn't want to put it down once I'd started it and I finished it in one sitting.  The characters are likeable and you get thoroughly caught up in the story as it unfolds. 

This is a wonderful beach read and I'll definitely be reading more by this author.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Bookouture and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!

I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs, 

Follow my blog with Bloglovin