Maddy's Book Blog

  The Life Rules of Hilda Pride by Claudia Carroll   I loved this book. It reminded me a bit of ‘Eudora Honeysett is quite well thank you’ and   ‘A man called Ove’. It was so much fun. You start off finding Hilda, or should I say Miss Pride, just annoying, but she soon grows on you. I haven’t read any of Claudia Carroll’s books before, but I will be looking out for more. Miss Pride is an old‑school secondary teacher in Scotland who doesn’t take any nonsense — from pupils or staff. When she goes a bit too far telling off a student, she finds herself suspended, and the thought of sitting alone in her flat drives her mad. So when a woman turns up to tell her she’s inherited a manor house in Ireland, it feels like exactly the fresh start she needs. She arrives with all her usual curmudgeonly ways, but soon realises she can’t restore the house alone — and that letting people in brings rewards she never expected. I really enjoyed this story. Miss Pride might come across...

  Hopes and Dreams at The Chocolate Pot Café by Jessica Redland Another gorgeous, comforting read from Jessica Redland — full of heart, community spirit and characters you can’t help but care about. It’s exactly the kind of story you sink into and don’t want to leave. A real treat for Jessica Redland fans.   Tara Porter has worked hard to rebuild her life, moving from a difficult foster‑care past to running the much‑loved Chocolate Pot Café on Castle Street, with a cosy flat above it. She’s reconnected with her foster parents and finally opened her heart to Jed, the talented artist still adjusting to the upheaval caused when the little boy he once believed was his son was taken abroad. But when Tara’s sister — and Jed’s ex‑wife — suddenly reappear, old tensions resurface and the steady happiness they’ve built is put to the test. Overall, it’s another heartfelt, comforting visit to Whitsborough Bay, full of warmth, community and characters you genuinely care about. Jessic...

  The House of Hidden Letters by Izzy Broom A gentle, engaging read with just the right blend of mystery and romance, it’s a lovely dual‑timeline story and a great introduction to Izzy Broom’s work. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more. Skye needs a fresh start, and when she spots a one‑euro lottery for a derelict cottage on a remote Greek island, it feels like the perfect escape. Winning it brings not just a crumbling home to restore but a whole new circle of friends and a community she didn’t know she needed. When she uncovers a bundle of wartime letters hidden in the cottage — and the discovery of long‑buried skeletons shakes the island — Skye is drawn into uncovering the truth, piecing together a story that’s been hidden for decades. Overall, it’s an engaging, atmospheric read with a lovely mix of mystery, history and new beginnings. The setting is gorgeous, the story unfolds beautifully, and it’s easy to get swept up in Skye’s journey. A really enjoyable esca...