Maddy's Book Blog

  The Perfect Gift by Sarah Bennett Halfmoon Quay No. 4   I was so excited to be offered the fourth book in the Halfmoon Quay series, and it genuinely felt like meeting up with a group of old friends. I was immediately immersed and couldn’t put it down — the kind of story that sweeps you along so completely that you finish it within 24 hours. Although it is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone. Who needs sleep when a book is this good?   In this instalment, absent brother Ed finally returns to Halfmoon Quay, excited to move back in with his cousin Matt — only to arrive home and discover Matt isn’t there to greet him. What he does find delivers a shock that sends ripples through the whole story. Meanwhile, Frankie Webber, a well‑known actress with a traumatic past, is filming in Halfmoon Quay and quickly becomes part of the local friendship circle. She fits in so naturally that it’s impossible not to warm to her. And honestly, how much do I wish Half...

  The Comeback by Mel Giedroyc   I love Mel Giedroyc, so I was really looking forward to reading this book. While it isn’t badly written, I struggled to connect with the characters and didn’t enjoy the storyline, and ultimately it just wasn’t for me.   Gill Piper returns to Leatherhead to help promote the Youth Theatre she grew up in, only to find her old nemesis Carla still firmly entrenched there — and the battle lines drawn almost immediately. The whole dynamic is meant to be comedic and chaotic, but I just found it all a bit cringe, and it stopped me from connecting with the story.   Overall, it’s a light, easy read, but it just didn’t land for me. The premise had potential and Mel Giedroyc’s humour does shine through in places, yet the characters and the theatre‑based drama felt more awkward than engaging. In the end, it wasn’t a book I connected with, though I know others may enjoy it more than I did.   https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/89270...

  I'll Be Home for Christmas by Helen Rolfe This is my third Helen Rolfe book, and I’ve enjoyed every one of them. The characters are so easy to love, and the wintery ski‑resort setting is absolutely gorgeous. The family dynamics are interesting, believable and full of heart, and the whole story has that gentle, comforting charm Helen Rolfe does so well. I really enjoyed it.   Sarah’s wedding is fast approaching, and although she loves her husband‑to‑be, she’s getting cold feet — nudged along by her mum, Chrissie, who worries she’s too young and rushing into things. Instead of spending Christmas with her mum or fiancé, Sarah decides to stay with her grandparents in their chalet, especially as they can’t attend the wedding due to ill health. When she arrives, she’s surprised to find her Aunt Meg already there. She’s always known her mum and Meg don’t speak, but never understood why. Over the holiday, she takes the chance to get to know her aunt properly and quickly grows fo...

  Saving Christmas at the Highland Repair Shop by Kiley Dunbar I was delighted to be invited back to Kiley Dunbar’s repair shop in the Scottish town of Cairn Dhu. I’ve read her previous books set around this wonderful community hub, and I’ve always loved the idea of a place where treasured items — and sometimes people — are mended rather than thrown away. The townsfolk have become such familiar, comforting characters, so I was genuinely happy to be reacquainted with them in this festive instalment. Florrie Norheim is the new girl in town — a consultant sent by her father to assess Hamish Skelton’s ski resort and ultimately recommend its closure. But Florrie is far from ruthless; she’s simply trying to prove she’s just as capable as her brothers. After a rocky start, including having nowhere to stay, she ends up living in the repair shop itself and is quickly drawn into the warmth of the community — and into Hamish’s life. Watching her soften, settle and slowly find her place in...

  My Chance to Fly by Samantha Tonge This is only my second Samantha Tonge book, but after enjoying the first so much I was delighted to have the chance to read this one — and it didn’t disappoint. The characters are wonderfully drawn, the story moves at a great pace, and the twists and turns along the way make it one of those books you simply don’t want to put down  Una lives in London with her best friend and flatmate Ziggy, carefully editing her life and her words so she never lets anyone in except him and his lovely mum. When she finds a part‑albino bird dying in her garden, she nurses it back to health and comes to treasure its yearly return from migration. But when Blue doesn’t appear one summer, she posts a video that unexpectedly goes viral — and is contacted by Konrad, a Bavarian who believes he’s seen the bird too, having once saved it himself. He invites her to Bavaria to find Blue, and pushing herself far beyond her comfort zone, Una decides to go. It’s a tende...

The Little Porto Book Club by Rebecca Raisin   I was so excited to get another Rebecca Raisin book to read, and I loved it. It has a slightly different feel from her previous novels — less focus on environmental themes — but the characterisation is absolutely incredible. She creates people you instantly care about, and this story is full of that trademark warmth, charm and emotional depth that make her books such a joy. Viviane appears to be very neurodiverse, and her mother worries about her lack of friends and her difficulty socialising. But when Viviane steps into a small coffee shop in Porto, she has no idea she’s about to spark a silent book club — or find a group of people who will quickly become friends. As the saying goes, every pot has its lid, and this quirky little circle fits together perfectly, each able to be fully themselves in each other’s company. The first person Viviane meets is Tiago, a handsome, nerdy tech entrepreneur who strikes up a conversation when he ...

  One Day at a Time by Shari Low I’ve read many of Shari Low’s ‘One’ books over the years, and although this one is a standalone, I still recognised a few familiar faces along the way. Shari first became well known writing with Russ King, but with over forty bestsellers to her name, it’s clear she’s earned her reputation in her own right. She writes with such ease and confidence, and her characters are always spot on. This story has a brilliant twist at the end too, and I absolutely loved it. Sheena, Orla and Maddie are all pregnant, each in completely different circumstances, and for all three it’s a surprise — but one thing they agree on is that they want their baby. And guess who else is pregnant? The midwife. They all meet at antenatal classes, forming an unlikely little group, but it soon becomes clear there may be more linking them than any of them realise. It’s a heartfelt, engaging story that brings these women together in ways that feel both unexpected and deeply s...