‘The Shopgirl’s Forbidden Love’ by Jenni Fletcher

I have been given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

‘The Shopgirl’s Forbidden Love’ is the fourth and final book of the Belles of Bath book series. The previous books in the series are ‘An Unconventional Countess’, ‘Unexpectedly Wed to the Officer’ and ‘The Duke’s Runaway Bride’. I enjoyed reading the other books and I have really liked how far Nancy MacQueen has come from being a background character to the heroine of her own story.

We see Nancy shine as her own person throughout the previous books albeit having a minor role but in this one, she takes center stage. Nancy works in a biscuit shop in Bath and it is great to see a strong businesswoman who does not need a man especially as it is set in the 1800s. Nancy realises that she is in love with a neighbouring shopkeeper called Jem only to find that he is engaged to another woman.

The book has relatable characters and they all have their own charms. Nancy’s drive and ambition to give herself a better life than what is dealt her really puts her ahead of many heroines of the genre. Her strong will and outspoken nature can get her into hot water but she is always able to get herself out of trouble again.

Just like the previous books, this is enjoyable to read. Five stars.

The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

‘The Crowns of Croswald’ is a brilliant book. The world-building is fantastic and really makes the reader picture the different places. The main character Ivy Lovely is a funny and relatable character.

The story follows Ivy who works as a scaldrony maid in a castle looking after the dragons that heat/cook the food enjoyed by the rich family living in the castle. Ivy has a few mishaps and ends up being fired. She finds herself being accepted into the Halls of Ivy school for people who can use magic.

Ivy finds that things are not always as they appear when simple classes turn into dangerous and mysterious incidents. Ivy needs to find the scrivener Derwin Edgar Night and unlock the mysteries surrounding him.

‘The Crowns of Croswald’ has a collection of funny and interesting characters and is a great book that keeps you turning the pages.

So This Is Love By Elizabeth Lim

‘So This Is Love’ is one of the twisted Disney book series. Each book takes an aspect from the Disney film, changes it slightly and shows what can happen to the characters when these changes happen.

In this novel, it is looking at Cinderella and what would happen if she didn’t have her trusty mice to help her get out of her locked room and try on the glass slipper to have the happily ever after ending. As there are no mice to help her Cinderella ends up locked in the room and when being sold, she manages to run away and finds work at the palace.

At the palace she has to avoid being found by her stepmother, stop a murderous plot and to avoid being seen by the prince.

Elizabeth Lim shows the inner workings of Cinderella’s character and to show her inner strength to take what life has given her and make the proverbial lemonade.

In recent years Cinderella has been thought of as a weak character as she is saved by her mice and then the prince. The Cinderella of Lim’s story could not be further from that idea. We see what Cinderella would do had she not been saved and had run on her own two feet (minus the glass slippers).

It’s a great story that was very difficult to put down and with relatable and funny characters. It is a treat for lovers of fairy tales.

Dr Stone Volumes 1,2,3 and 4 by Riichiro Inagaki

When stone birds fall from the sky no one knows what will happen next. Soon the whole human race is covered in stone with seemingly no way of getting free. 3700 years later a high school student called Taiju has managed to break free from his stone prison. While looking at his surroundings he finds his science loving friend Senku has managed to break free a few months prior. The world they once knew has drastically changed with animals and nature taking over the planet. Senku and Taiju must try to free everyone and with the use of science to rebuild the human race.

Dr Stone is a manga series of which so far there are twenty one volumes. It shows an interesting perspective on what would happen if humans just stopped. Senku uses a lot of science in each volume to produce things that they would need in order for them to keep going. They make things such as explosives, electricity and antibiotics. With each volume we meet new characters who have their own ideas on how the new society should be run.

Dr Stone is very enjoyable as it has a nice blend of excitement, mystery, danger and humour. Being a manga series it allows more development of characters and has a unique way of telling the storyline with the use of speech and thought bubbles as well as the visuality of the facial expressions of the characters.

My Fake Rake by Eva Leigh

‘My Fake Rake’ is a humorous book with a strong female lead who prioritises knowledge over getting married.

As the book is set in the early 1800’s most eligible young ladies would be searching for a man to marry however Lady Grace Wyatt is more at home at the public library than in the ballroom.

I enjoyed the reversal of roles from the play ‘Pygmalion’ by George Bernard Shaw. In ‘Pygmalion’ professor Henry Higgins takes the common flower girl Eliza and turns her into a perfect lady of society. In ‘My Fake Rake’ Lady Grace Wyatt turns the bookish and socially shy Sebastian Holloway into a dashing and charismatic rake. The reversal of roles gives power to the female character in a world where she would have little if any.

This book has interesting characters and I am looking forward to learning more about them in the rest of the series.

A Match for the Rebellious Earl by Lara Temple

This is a great book with lovable and relatable characters. Kit Carrington, having spent years running away from his imposing family is forced to return when he becomes Lord Westford and head of the household.

Now forcing to have tea and parties with all the eligible ladies of society Kit encounters the intelligent and managing Genevieve Maitland.

‘A Match for the Rebellious Earl’ is filled with humour and a very enjoyable book to read.

The Cornish Cream Tea Christmas by Cressida McLaughlin

‘The Cornish Cream Tea Christmas’ is the third book in the Cornish cream tea book series. The first book was a great love story, the second was a struggle to get through but this book was the best of the series.

In a time like this year when families and friends can’t be together you can lose yourself in the warm glow of this book.

Hannah Swan has to go to the Cornish village of Porthgolow just before Christmas for work. She leaves her family and friends behind in Scotland while she works to try and get back home before Christmas Day.

This book has so much to it such as a ghost story, the meaning of friendship and the joy of new love.

‘Some Desperate Glory’ by Max Egremont

‘Some Desperate Glory’ is a combination of biography and poetry. Following the lives and poetry of 11 poets Max Egremont looks at what was happening during each year of the war. Each year of the First World War is accompanied by a short biography of the poets and some of the poetry they had written in that year.
The book overall shows the mortality rate of the war because out of the 11 poets Max Egremont picks only 5 survive the war.
Although the book is interesting it can feel a little disjointed with the jumping back and forth between the poets.

4.50 From Paddington by Agatha Christie

When Mrs McGillicuddy is visiting her friend Miss Marple after doing some shopping she is horrified when she looks out of her train window to see someone getting murdered.

The only thing is when she reports it, no body is found. Enlisting the help of her friend Miss Marple, they are determined to prove that a murder did happen. After signs point to an old family house Jane must get help herself to stop the murderer from striking again.

This is a brilliant story with a small bit of humour and with interesting characters. Miss Eyelesbarrow is an interesting character who is helping Miss Marple throughout the story.

The addition of the two children playing detectives is a stark contrast between a game and the reality of a murderer who is running around.