Maddy's Book Blog

  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...

  A Family Affair by Jodi Taylor I’ve read many books by Jodi Taylor and they are completely bonkers — but I absolutely love them. Her Time Police novels fling you around the world in both place and time, creating chaos wherever they land and somehow emerging unscathed every single time. They’re fast, funny and gloriously ridiculous, and this one is no exception. Hilarious. Lady Smallhope and Pennyroyal are business partners with a secret romantic relationship, and between them they own two time machines they use as bounty hunters in the lucrative service of the Time Police. Life is already chaotic enough, but when Pennyroyal’s sister Amelia suddenly appears, he starts spending more time with her than with Lady Smallhope — until events take a dangerous turn. As ever with Jodi Taylor, the mix of time‑travel mayhem, sharp humour and emotional undercurrents makes for a wildly entertaining ride. It’s another wildly entertaining instalment, full of the trademark chaos, sharp humou...

  Blue Skies Ahead by Jessica Redland I just love Jessica Redland’s books, and I was delighted to hear she has a new series out — especially one set, like many of her previous favourites, on a country farm. She has such a gift for transporting you out of the city and straight into the heart of the countryside, with realistic, relatable characters and a wonderfully grounded sense of place. This one even comes complete with a very grumpy teenager, written with her usual mix of humour and empathy. When Grace and her husband break up, she heads to her mum Frances’s for a much‑needed holiday, taking along Maddie — her very grumpy teenage daughter. When they stumble across Hazelwick Farm for sale, Grace takes it as a sign, and she and Frances decide to buy it together. Frances will run the café, Grace will take on the farm work, and Maddie… well, Maddie might help if she can shake off her bad mood. The story is full of twists and turns, including a few I genuinely didn’t see coming, ...

  The Truth of Us by Sara Cox   I’d obviously heard of Sara Cox, and the premise of this book really intrigued me — and I’m so pleased to say it absolutely delivered. Sometimes celebrity‑penned novels can feel a little flat, but this one is a triumph. It’s engaging, heartfelt and far more assured than I expected, with a story that pulls you in and a voice that feels both natural and genuinely entertaining. In 1982, on a street in Manchester where all the houses looked much the same — though number 51 was always a touch neater than number 49 — two girls became inseparable. Abi and Christy, birthday twins and instant best friends, grew up side by side: Christy the wilder one, Abi happily led astray. Twenty years later, their lives couldn’t be more different. Abi is back in her parents’ house with a husband and children, while Christy is living the high life in London. But when Christy’s mum becomes unwell, she returns home, and the two women find themselves neighbours once a...

  Winter Lights in Pine Harbor by Tammy Robinson I’ve read nearly every book Tammy Robinson has written, and I’ve loved them all. Even though she’s based in New Zealand and I’m here in the UK, her characters and situations always feel incredibly relatable, as if she’s writing about people you might know yourself. There’s a warmth and emotional honesty to her stories that I adore, and Winter Lights in Pine Harbor is another beautiful example of why her books are such a joy to read. Mae was an ER nurse, completely burned out after years of pressure, and when a young boy dies on her watch she knows she can’t stay. She moves to Pine Harbor to work as a community nurse, hoping the slower pace will help her heal. Jonah has lived in Pine Harbor all his life; his parents want him to take over the family business, but he prefers the quiet, steady rhythm of being a lobsterman. When Mae becomes responsible for Jonah’s father’s care, sparks fly almost immediately. Jonah’s dream of showing...

  I Can’t Believe I Don’t Have a Boyfriend by Harry Trevaldwyn Having read and enjoyed the first book in this series, I was delighted to be offered the second — and it was just as enjoyable. These books feel like sitting down for a chat with a much younger, very amusing friend who has an endless supply of self‑deprecating humour and chaotic charm. I didn’t quite laugh out loud, but it certainly made me smile all the way through. Patch and Sam have shared their first kiss, but they’re not officially boyfriends yet — something Patch is desperate to change. He’s convinced the best way to make it happen is to give Sam the most perfect date imaginable… but, of course, the best‑laid plans rarely survive contact with real life. Meanwhile, his best friend Jean is tutoring one of the worst boys in school and doesn’t seem to hate him nearly as much as she should, Patch’s mum is suspiciously cheerful, and Sam’s friend Peter is being altogether too nice. With Peter also on Patch’s team for...

  The Way Home by Amanda Prowse   Amanda Prowse is one of my favourite authors, and her books are always a joy to read. She writes about real‑life situations and how real people deal with them, with characters who feel true to life and instantly relatable. The Way Home is no exception — heartfelt, honest and beautifully told, it’s the kind of story that stays with you long after you’ve finished. Lilly‑Bob has lived in the same council flat since childhood, sharing it with her beloved father and growing up with a view of the river that became part of her identity. The flat itself may be modest, but the community around her has become a kind of chosen family — especially the single mum in the block and her little boy, who have both become very dear to her. Her father bought the flat from the council so he could leave her something secure, a place filled with memories and love. Now in her seventies, Lilly‑Bob is devastated to receive a compulsory purchase notice: the council ...

  Secrets of the Italian Guesthouse by Sue Moorcroft Sue Moorcroft is one of my favourite writers, and it’s always a real treat to have one of her books to dive into. A long, hot summer paired with one of her novels is perfection. Her stories may be rooted in romance, but they always offer so much more — rich emotion, real‑world depth, and settings so vividly drawn that you can almost feel the heat and see the scenery. The landscapes she describes are consistently stunning, and this book is no exception; it made me want to pack a bag and head straight to Italy. Jade grew up on the shores of Lake Como, raised by her paternal grandparents when her too‑young parents couldn’t care for her. She naturally fell into helping at their guesthouse and always assumed she would one day take it over. But after her grandmother passes away, Jade discovers her father had two more children she knew nothing about — a secret her grandmother had been sworn to keep. The aptly named Three Sisters Gue...

  One & Only by Maurene Goo I was really intrigued by the blurb for One & Only . Having read The One by John Marrs, where people are matched by DNA, the idea of being matched through past‑life visions instantly caught my attention. It’s a great concept, full of potential and originality, and the story itself has some genuinely clever moments — although the copy I had could definitely have benefited from a bit more editing. Cassia Park has always been destined to join her family’s matchmaking business, The One & Only. The women in her family share a secret gift — the ability to see people’s past lives and identify the person they’re fated to be with, the soul they’ve loved across lifetimes. For ten years Cassia has searched in vain for her own fated match, until a bike accident leads to her being rescued by Ellis, a charming 28‑year‑old who sparks something unexpected. Their fling feels effortless, but when Cassia later visits Ellis’ office, her true fated turns out...

  One of the Family by Mark Edwards   Mark Edwards is one of my favourite authors in this genre, and I’ve read every one of his books. One of the Family is right up there with the best of them — exciting, sharply written, full of well‑drawn characters, and packed with the kind of twisty, ever‑present mystery he does so well. Patrick, a driver and aspiring filmmaker, meets Holly — an uptown girl from an extraordinarily wealthy family — and soon finds himself invited to their remote Scottish mansion. There he meets her father Charles and his unnervingly youthful new girlfriend, her brother Lewis, her sister Miranda and Miranda’s husband Zach. When Charles’ girlfriend turns out to be a striking doppelganger of his late wife, things take a decidedly dark turn. Add in a couple of unsolved deaths that naturally pique Patrick’s curiosity, and you have a novel that’s impossible to put down, the kind that keeps you reading well into the night. Mark Edwards is the master of the psy...

  The Lost Château by Dinah Jefferies This is the fifth Dinah Jefferies novel I’ve read, and each one feels like a classic — written with the kind of richness and emotional depth you’d expect from Daphne du Maurier or one of the Brontë sisters. Her stories have that rare, transporting quality that lets you fully immerse yourself and forget the world for a while. The Lost Château is another beautifully crafted example of historical fiction at its best, layered, atmospheric and wonderfully absorbing. It’s 1936, and Thirza leaves her beautiful home in Greece to stay with her great‑aunt Berenice in the Dordogne, who has been taken seriously ill. She brings her young daughter Romi and her teenage step‑daughter Valentina, but not her husband Emilio, who has gone to Spain to retrieve Valentina’s sister Lucia — a journey Thirza fears may keep them both away for good. Berenice herself is a difficult woman, full of secrets, and the château seems to harbour mysteries of its own: strange ...

  Romantic Hero by Kirsty Greenwood This is a great fun summer romp, told with tongue firmly in cheek and a lovely sense of mischief. It’s the kind of book that makes you smile, never takes itself too seriously, yet is written with enough skill to carry the unbelievable right to the edge of believable. I’ve read and enjoyed one of Kirsty Greenwood’s previous novels, and this has definitely made me keen to explore more. Imagine being a successful romance writer on your way to finish the final book in a hugely popular series — only for the love of your life, who also happens to be a fellow author, to announce he wants to take a break. Poor Gertie, utterly devastated, is hit with acute writer’s block and can’t produce a single word. With her deadline looming, her agent nagging, and her neighbour enthusiastically helping her ‘manifest’ her goals, she wakes up to find a half‑naked, extremely confused cowboy in her living room — and not just any cowboy, but River Oakley, the villain ...

  A Wedding Under the Cornish Sky by Phillipa Ashley Phillipa Ashley is a number‑one bestselling author of more than thirty romance novels, and having enjoyed several of her previous books, I was really looking forward to this one. A Wedding Under the Cornish Sky has that familiar blend of charm, warmth and gentle escapism she does so well, and it was a pleasure to dive back into her storytelling. When Zennor was enjoying her dream Cornish wedding to Trev, she was stunned when a very drunk Matt — her first love — appeared to sing at the reception and blurted out that he’d seen Trev kissing one of the waitresses. Five years later, with the marriage long over, Zennor is living alone in St Ives and building a business with her best friend. The last thing she expects is for Matt to return to the area and turn out to be her new landlord — and she’s convinced she hates him for ruining her wedding… doesn’t she? What really lifts the story is the gorgeous Cornish setting, with its s...

The French Market Murder by Greg Mosse   I really enjoyed The French Bookshop Murder , and I equally enjoyed The French Market Murder , set in the beautiful French town of Sainte‑Catherine — also known as the book village. It was lovely to return to Zoe Pascal, her little dog Russell, and the familiar faces who make the village feel so alive. Greg Mosse captures that charming, slightly eccentric atmosphere again, and it was a pleasure to slip back into their world. Zoe Pascal joins forces with Denis, who runs the local guest house, to create a book tour where she curates a bespoke reading list for each visitor. The group is full of interesting characters, each carrying secrets of their own. When a body is discovered in the house next door to the bookshop, suspicion quickly spreads — could the culprit be one of the book‑tour guests, or someone from the village itself? With tensions rising and rumours swirling, it once again falls to Zoe to untangle the truth and uncover the ki...

  The One Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh   I’ve really enjoyed Rosie Walsh’s previous books, so I was excited to read this one. Her writing is vivid and emotionally sharp, bringing the story fully to life. Told across two timelines, 2010 and 2022, it weaves together enough mystery and intrigue to keep you turning the pages, always wanting to understand how the past has shaped the present. When Carrie and Johan marry on a beach in Thailand in 2010, they’re madly in love and certain they’ve found their forever. But everything shatters when the police storm their wedding and arrest Johan on drug charges. He pleads guilty, refuses to see Carrie again, and their future ends in an instant. By 2022, Carrie is married to Robin, with two gorgeous children, and is ready to return to life as a surgeon. A placement in Sweden brings her back into the orbit of her old mentor — and to the shocking discovery that Johan is out of prison. Still needing answers, still carrying the we...

  The Secret Thread by Eve Chase   Having read and enjoyed The Midnight Hour by Eve Chase, I was excited to pick up The Secret Thread — and I enjoyed it just as much. Her writing has that wonderfully immersive, almost classic feel to it, the kind that pulls you straight into the story. This one unfolds across two timelines, 1969 and 2024, with the past gradually revealing how the present came to be, and I loved the way the threads between them slowly tightened. Mimi Mott is a very famous, yet fiercely private, style icon and exclusive decorator — wealthy, influential, and still grieving the recent loss of her husband. She finally decides her life story deserves to be told, choosing to reveal it through a charity auction where every item comes with its own tale. To help shape those stories she hires Jo O’Mara to write the copy, though Jo has her own reasons for needing the job. Mimi is also supported by Woody, a very handsome young man, and more than a few sparks seem to ...

  Common Decency by Tom Allen   I did enjoy this offering from Tom Allen, though not quite as much as I’d hoped. I couldn’t shake the feeling that it would have landed even better as an audiobook, read by Tom himself, because his voice and rhythm are so clearly woven through the story. On the surface it’s about a group of residents banding together to save an old oak tree, but there’s so much more happening beneath that premise — layers of personal struggle, community tension and the quiet ways people try to do the right thing. Oak Drive is a small road opposite a little park with a very old oak tree at its heart. The residents keep an eye on one another, so when the council announces plans to turn the park into an electric‑charging station — removing the ancient oak in the process — they rally together. But nothing on Oak Drive is quite what it seems. Donald, the self‑appointed ruler of the road and dictator of his long‑suffering wife Fanny, is hiding more than anyone rea...

  The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton I absolutely love Kate Morton’s books, so I was incredibly excited to read this one — and it didn’t disappoint. Her writing has that timeless, classic quality I always fall into so easily, and once again she delivers a beautifully crafted story full of atmosphere, mystery and emotional depth. She’s one of those authors whose books feel like modern classics the moment you open them. When Lauren was sixteen, she was hiding in the family tree house while the rest of the family were at a picnic. From her perch, she watched her mum and baby brother return home for the birthday‑cake knife — and then saw a stranger appear at the door. What happened next changed everything: Lauren witnessed her mother kill the man, before fainting from shock. The police accepted her mother’s claim of self‑defence… but was it the truth? Fifty years later, the sisters gather for their mother’s birthday and realise her memory is fading fast. If Lauren doesn’t uncover wha...