Maddy's Book Blog

  Starlight Over Hollyhock Farm by Georgina Troy Starlight Over Hollyhock Farm by Georgina Troy was my first book by this author. I haven’t read the earlier titles in the series, but this one worked perfectly as a stand‑alone. I enjoyed it enough that I’d be happy to pick up more of her books.   The beautiful island of Jersey is the setting for this book and it just makes you want to visit. A hit TV series, with an extremely obnoxious star, Riley Sharp, arrives at Hollyhock Farm to film. His extremely hardworking and very hard‑done‑by PA, Tasha, accompanies him and does her best to keep the filming on track, despite Riley causing a two‑week delay. Jersey radio presenter Callum, who is friends with the farm’s owner, meets Riley and Tasha. He is immediately attracted to Tasha and persuades Riley to be interviewed on his show. As Callum and Tasha’s relationship develops, Tasha and Riley’s strained working relationship finally comes to a head, and Riley ends up causing major ...

  Mending Lost Dreams at the Highland Repair Shop by Kiley Dunbar I haven’t read any of Kiley Dunbar’s previous books, but I probably should! I really enjoyed this one. It’s got not one, but two love stories, some lovely characters, and beautiful descriptions of the Scottish Highlands that made me want to pack my bags. There’s a comforting charm to the whole story—gentle romance, emotional healing, and even a couple of recipes tucked in, which was a nice surprise. It’s the kind of book that wraps around you like a warm blanket. I genuinely enjoyed it from start to finish. Newly qualified doctor, Alice, moves to a small village in the Scottish Highlands after breaking up with her boyfriend—but she’s hiding a big secret about her own health. In the same village, Murray returns home after splitting from his boss, hoping to mend his broken heart while helping with the family business. Then there’s Finley, a mountain ranger who lives far from people and doesn’t quite understand them...

  The Christmas Magpie by Mark Edwards   If you’ve followed Lucy’s story, this fourth instalment is a must-read. Dark, twisted, and deliciously unsettling— The Christmas Magpie is Mark Edwards at his chilling best. If you’ve followed Lucy’s story, this fourth instalment is a must-read. Mark Edwards proves once again that beneath his family-man exterior lies a master of psychological suspense. The Christmas Magpie is part 4 of the Magpies series, and yes—Lucy is back. If you know, you know. Her presence looms large, even if she’s not always centre stage, and the tension she brings is unmistakable.   It’s Noel and Dani’s first Christmas in their new home, and they’re hoping for a picture-perfect holiday. But things quickly unravel. Unwelcome gifts start appearing on their doorstep, they feel watched, unsettled by the eerie obsession their neighbours have with a nearby women’s prison. A tragedy at a Christmas party sets off a chain of events that pulls them deeper in...

  The Book of Lost Hours by Hayley Gelfuso If you loved The Midnight Library , The Book of Lost Hours will feel like a kindred spirit—rich in imagination, emotional depth, and time-bending wonder. Hayley Gelfuso’s debut novel, The Book of Lost Hours , is a sweeping historical fantasy that blends the poignancy of memory with the thrill of time travel. Like Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library , it explores the weight of personal and collective history—but through a darker, more haunting lens.   The story begins in 1938, when eleven-year-old Lisavet Levy is thrown into Time Space by her father as he goes to save her brother. Tragically, neither return—victims of Kristallnacht. Lisavet is raised in Time Space by Azrael, a ghostly guardian, and grows up surrounded by books that hold people’s memories. When she discovers that people are entering Time Space to burn these memories, she makes it her mission to protect them. In 1965, Amelia inherits a special watch from her Uncle...