BLOG TOUR - Golden Girls on the Run

Title:  Golden Girls on the Run

Author:  Judy Leigh

Publisher:  Boldwood Books

Genre:   Women’s Fiction

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   351

Date of Publication:   December 6, 2025

My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Thelma and Louise meets The Golden Girls in the BRAND NEW laugh-out-loud, relatable read from MILLION COPY bestseller Judy Leigh! Perfect for fans of Dawn French and Caroline James! 🍷✨❤️

 Age is just a number. Trouble is a lifestyle.

When octogenarian sisters-in-law Sadie and Bronagh find themselves at the centre of a scandalous (and slightly explosive) bake-off fiasco, there’s only one thing to do – steal Sadie’s grandson’s gleaming red Ferrari and make a run for it.

Sadie is the practical one, all cardigans and contingency plans. Bronagh treats rules as loose suggestions – especially if mischief or wine is involved.

What begins as a quick getaway across Ireland soon spirals into a wild, cross-country adventure filled with fake identities, unexpected friendships, and more than a few brushes with the law.

Sadie and Bronagh may be on the run, but what they find at the journey’s end might just be what they were missing all along…

A heartwarming, hilarious tale of rebellion, rediscovery, and the true meaning of family.

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/GoldenGirlsRun

MY THOUGHTS:

From Ballywick, Ireland, to parts unknown, it appears that Sadie and Bronagh have a destination. However, reaching their destination is only a part of their journey. With a touch of fun, a hint of sneakiness, and a dose of honesty, this trip strengthens the best friend relationship between sisters-in-law Sadie and Bronagh. Their exciting and exhausting trip is in Sadie’s grandson’s Ferrari, and they go from` spinning wheels to spinning tales at every stop.

I thoroughly enjoyed Golden Girls on the Run after reading The Vintage Village Bake Off. As I was about to read Judy Leigh’s latest book, a note from the author preceded the story, introducing readers to several of the characters. These include Robert and his sisters, Bunty and Hattie. I’m glad I read the previous book because I enjoyed getting to know these characters. 

This latest book introduces Sadie and Bronagh, our octogenarians who are the main protagonists in this story. These books are written as standalone novels, but if you enjoy character connection and continuity, you might want to read the previously mentioned book. It is a delightful read and definitely worth the time.

I adored all the characters in this book, particularly the friendship between Sadie and Bronagh. Despite being widowed, they exude youthful energy that radiates through the pages. I also enjoyed the people they encounter along the way and the villagers in Devon who welcome them at their destination. While the book contains a fair amount of humor, it also includes serious moments that provide levity.

While Judy Leigh is a new name for me, both books were truly a delight. Now I very much look forward to reading her backlist.

Many thanks to Boldwood Books, Rachel’s Random Resources and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Judy Leigh is the bestselling author of Five French Hens, A Grand Old Time and The Age of Misadventure and the doyenne of the ‘it’s never too late’ genre of women’s fiction. She has lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently resides in Somerset.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: @judyleighuk

Twitter: @JudyLeighWriter

Instagram: @judyrleigh

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JudyLeighNews

Bookbub profile: @judyrleigh 

BLOG TOUR - Mystery at Mistletoe Place

DESCRIPTION:

Mistletoe, mulled wine… and murder? When a party turns fatal, Eve Mallow is on the case! 

Arthur’s Boatyard is a jewel in the crown of Saxford St Peter, a famous firm that’s been fixing barges and boats for a hundred years. But their centenary celebration shows it’s not all plain sailing… The owner, Anthony Mottram, seems to be at daggers drawn with half the village. So when he turns up dead in his own workshop, Eve Mallow knows she needs to chart her path carefully if she’s to find his killer.

Accompanied by her stalwart sidekick, dachshund Gus, Eve sets out on decidedly choppy waters. Why did Anthony’s sister send him to the boatyard the night he died? Where has his ex-girlfriend vanished to? And what is his best friend and business partner hiding?

With her only clues a scarf, a scrap of paper and the smell of perfume, Eve must navigate an ocean of suspects who all have reasons to lie. But when the new owner of the boatyard is murdered, she knows she’s sailing close to the wind. Despite all the mince pies and the carol singing, someone is feeling far from festive. Can Eve make it through the storm and land her suspect, or will she be left dead in the water?

A completely charming and gripping English cozy mystery, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Emylia Hall and J.R. Ellis.

BUY LINK:

https://geni.us/B0D29TNK31social

Title:   Mystery at Hideaway House

Author:  Clare Chase

Series:  An Eve Mallow Mystery Book #15

Publisher:  Bookouture 

Genre:   Cozy Mystery 

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:  338

Date of Publication: December 1, 2025

My Rating:  5 Stars 

MY THOUGHTS:

Mystery at Mistletoe Place is another thrilling installment in Clare Chase’s captivating series, which never fails to deliver. Arthur’s Yard will soon be celebrating its centennial celebration. The festivities are barely underway when the owner of the boatyard is soon found murdered. The event proves stressful to Eve Mallow, journalist, obituary writer and an excellent amateur detective, as it doesn’t take long for her follow her intuition that the victim was a result of murder. 

When it comes to writing obituaries, Eve liked to learn full histories of her subjects. As she begins digging deep into Arthur’s life, there are some things that just don’t add up. On the surface, Arthur seemed well-liked. But things just weren’t ringing true, as a gnarled web of secrets begin to unfold. This makes getting solid information about Arthur near to impossible for Eve. 

Obituary aside, Eve makes it her aim to find out who is hiding what, and of course, who killed Arthur. With her characteristic flair, Clare Chase puts Eve in the driver’s seat, guiding her through a complex web of clues and revelations. Before long, pieces of a very complicated puzzle begin to fall into place. Eve may be missing her husband Robin as he is away, but her best friend Viv and her adorable dachshund Gus are right there by her side. 

Can Eve solve Arthur’s murder, write a comprehensive obituary, and still find time to get ready for the holidays? We hope so, as Eve, Robin, and their friends deserve a relaxing holiday. In the meantime, readers eagerly anticipate the sixteenth book in the series.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Clare Chase writes classic mysteries. Her aim is to take readers away from it all via some armchair sleuthing in atmospheric locations.

Her debut novel was shortlisted for Novelicious’s Undiscovered Award, as well as an EPIC award post-publication, and was chosen as a Debut of the Month by LoveReading. Murder on the Marshes (Tara Thorpe 1) was shortlisted for an International Thriller Writers award.

Like her heroines, Clare is fascinated by people and what makes them tick. Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked in settings as diverse as Littlehey Prison and the University of Cambridge, in her home city. She’s lived everywhere from the house of a lord to a slug-infested flat and finds the mid-terrace she currently occupies a good happy medium.

As well as writing, Clare loves family time, art and architecture, cooking, and of course, reading other people’s books.

You can find Clare's website and blog at www.clarechase.com

Social Media

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BLOG TOUR - Murder at the Scottish Ball

DESCRIPTION:

Holly wreaths, eggnog by a roaring fire and… A body by the Christmas tree? Opal Laplume is on the case!

December 1934. Spending the holidays in a Scottish castle has made Opal Laplume’s festive wishes come true. Sir Blair’s Christmas Eve ball is legendary, and Opal dons her finest gown for an exquisite night of bubbles, baubles, and tartan kilts. But the festivities come to a screeching halt when their gracious host is electrocuted by some faulty Christmas lights.

The mood soon turns from festive to frosty when Opal discovers that what seemed like a tragic accident was in fact a deadly sabotage. Everyone has something to hide. Sir Blair’s marriage was crumbling like a piece of Scottish shortbread. Did his wife take ‘til death do us part’ too far? The butler was promised a large sum from Sir Blair’s will. Did he want an early Christmas bonus? And who is the ghostly figure playing bagpipes in the tower at night?

Just as the killer proves as difficult to find as the Loch Ness Monster, one of the guests is found smothered in their bedroom. Opal soon discovers Sir Blair was hiding a deadly secret on a small island off the rugged Scottish coast. Can she find the key to the mystery there, before the entire party perishes? Or will this Christmas be her last? 

An addictive and twisty Golden Age murder mystery set in the Scottish Highlands. Fans of Agatha Christie. T.E. Kinsey and Verity Bright won’t be able to put this down!

BUY LINKS: 

https://geni.us/B0FKH6HFXSsocial

Title:  Murder at the Scottish Ball 

Author:  Millicent Binks 

Series:   An Opal Laplume Mystery Book 3

Publisher:  Bookouture 

Genre:  Cozy Mystery 

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:  269

Date of Publication:   November 28, 2025

My Rating:   5 Stars

MY THOUGHTS:

Opal Laplume is very much looking forward to her family’s Christmas travel plans. They’ll be spending the holidays at an elegant Scottish castle and attending the much-anticipated Scottish Ball. Opal couldn’t be more excited. What promises to be a warm, festive gathering quickly turns chilling, however, when their host, Sir Seamus Blair, is found dead—electrocuted by the castle’s Christmas lights.

At first, everyone assumes it was a tragic accident caused by faulty wiring. But as the layers of the story unfold, it becomes clear that something far more sinister is at play. Opal, who has a knack for solving mysteries—though not without putting herself in danger—can’t resist the urge to investigate. Despite her family’s concerns and her own haunting memories from a previous case, she’s determined to uncover the truth behind Sir Seamus‘s death. But will her curiosity once again put her life at risk?

I loved the eerie, atmospheric feel of this story. Millicent Binks masterfully blends cozy mystery charm with a touch of Gothic suspense. The Scottish castle setting—with its snow-covered hills, flickering candlelight, and shadowy corridors—creates the perfect backdrop for a holiday murder. As the author describes, it’s an “airy Gothic atmosphere”—moody yet elegant, dark yet full of seasonal sparkle.

Opal, a delightful heroine, is clever, determined, and wonderfully relatable. Her inner strength shines through even as danger looms. The brisk pacing, cleverly planted clues, and satisfying yet surprising resolution make this a perfect read for mystery lovers who relish a touch of the macabre wrapped in holiday warmth. It’s a festive whodunit that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Millicent Binks is a writer, former costume designer and burlesque performer. Her work includes a column for  The Evening Standard  and a cover story for  The Sunday Times Magazine that was optioned for TV by NBCUniversal. Her first book series, featuring English milliner and amateur sleuth Opal Laplume, is set in Paris, Hollywood and Scotland. She enjoys writing in libraries and cafes all over London with her laptop or occasionally writes while lounging at home on the settee with her two cats Tarquin and Madame de Pompadot.

Social Media

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AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - Unmarried

Title:  Unmarried

Author:  Emily Shiner

Publisher:  Bookouture

Genre:   Psychological Thriller 

Series:   Perfect Couples #2

Format:  Audiobook ALC 

Length:  8 hrs 26 mins

Narrator:  Ashley Rose Kaplan

No. of Pages:  330

Date of Publication:  November 19, 2025

My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

He killed his first wife. But I married him to protect my own secrets…

I never expected to find my happily ever after with Dr Mitch Ellis. I wore a lace dress with an extravagant train to our wedding at the biggest church in town. Mitch wanted to be sure everything was flawless. Now I can see I’ve made a grave mistake. Mitch wants me to be his quiet, perfect little wife, just like his last one. He doesn’t know who he is dealing with this time.

He thinks I haven’t noticed her jewellery still tucked away in our room. And that the details on her death certificate don’t add up. He believes I’m happily under his thumb, sunning myself all day by his pool where his staff can keep an eye on me.

Mitch should pay for what he did to the woman before me, and I won’t let him get away with it this time…

Unmarried is a totally gripping psychological thriller packed with twists, perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, The Perfect Marriage and Gone Girl .

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you'll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

MY THOUGHTS:

Aimee is preparing to marry Mitch, but she’s bringing far more to this union than a simple “I do.” Behind her poised exterior lies a plan—one that promises happiness for her, but for deeply sinister reasons. This isn’t a marriage built on love or trust; it’s a union forged by a contract and bound by a dark, buried secret. Mitch may walk into the relationship with high hopes, but he quickly discovers he hasn’t married a sweet, compliant wife. Aimee has plenty of surprises in store, and none of them are good.

To fully appreciate the tension and twisted dynamics at play, I strongly recommend reading Uninvited by Emily Shiner first. It sets the stage beautifully and provides the context that makes Unmarried even more gripping.

Ashley Rose Kaplan delivers an outstanding narration, adding intensity and atmosphere to every chapter. This psychological thriller never lets thanks to tight pacing, with sharp twists. It just might keep you on tenterhooks right through the final page.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Emily Shiner always dreamed of becoming an author. After spending years devouring stacks of thrillers, she decided to try her hand at writing them herself. Now she gets to live out her dream of writing novels and sharing her stories with people around the world. She lives in the Appalachian Mountains and loves hiking with her husband, daughter, and their two dogs.

https://authoremilyshiner.com/

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AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - Vanishing Hour

Title:  Vanishing Hour

Author:  Laura Griffin

Publisher:  Berkley

Genre:   Romantic Suspense

Format:  Audio ALC and Kindle ARC

Narrator:  Julia Atwood

Length:  9 hrs 17 mins

No. of Pages:   322

Date of Publication:   October 25, 2022

My Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

When a cold case in Texas leads to a sinister string of disappearances, a newcomer to the small town helps a detective piece together the clues in this new romantic thriller from New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin.

Corporate lawyer Ava Burch has had enough of the big city and the daily grind. She grew up with her father, who raised search-and-rescue dogs, in rural Texas and has moved to the small town of Cuervo to spend time in the dry, rugged wilderness near Big Bend National Park. When she and her dog, Huck, discover an abandoned campsite on a volunteer search-and-rescue mission, she's perplexed, but she carefully photographs it all the same.

All Grant Wycoff can see when he looks at Ava is a city slicker--with her designer jeans and shiny car--who has no business on a serious team made of seasoned outdoorsmen and retired cops. But when she tells him of her findings on the trail, he sees there's more to her than meets the eye.

Ava's discovery reminds Grant of the unsolved case of a young woman who went missing two years ago. As they look into the campsite further, another woman disappears under odd circumstances. With time running out, Ava and Grant must work against the brutal heat from both the Texas sun and their own electric chemistry to solve the case.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

Ava Burch’s life may have been spiraling, but her bold decision to walk away from her corporate law career leads her somewhere unexpected—and far more dangerous. Hoping to reinvent herself as a nature photographer, she’s out capturing the Texas wilderness when she finds evidence of a gruesome crime. Soon her path crosses with Deputy Sheriff Grant Wycoff. Grant is ready to dive into what just might be a troubling case, and he’s stunned to discover that someone has already taken dozens of detailed photographs of his crime scene—someone who definitely isn’t on his team.

His initial irritation with Ava quickly fades once he realizes she’s far more than an overcurious bystander. Not only does her camera capture crucial clues others have missed, but her instincts and persistence open new angles on both the active investigation and a lingering cold case. Ava also brings along Hank, a Search and Rescue dog inherited from her estranged father, and together they become indispensable to Grant’s work. As more than one woman goes missing, Ava and Grant find themselves in a race against time, each discovery raising the stakes.

As a romantic suspense, Vanishing Hour delivers on both fronts. The slow-burn chemistry between Ava and Grant blends naturally with the escalating tension of the investigation. And Julia Atwood’s excellent narration adds depth and atmosphere, making the story even more immersive. With its excellent pacing, this gripping book will definitely keep the reader invested from the first chapter to the last.

Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Laura Griffin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty books and novellas. She is a two-time RITA Award winner, as well as the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award. Laura got her start in journalism before venturing into the world of suspense fiction. Her books have been translated into fourteen languages. Laura lives in Austin, Texas, where she is working on her next novel.

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