BLOG TOUR - The Diary at the Irish Adoption House

The Diary at the Irish Adoption House

by Michelle Vernal

SeriesThe Irish Adoption House Book 4

PublisherBookouture 

GenreHistorical Fiction 

FormatKindle ARC

Pages304

Pub. DateOctober 20, 2026

Rating🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

DESCRIPTION

Ireland, 1939: ‘Please,’ my tearful voice breaks as I press the leather-bound diary into Sister Louise’s hands. ‘Give this to the family who takes care of my baby. It’s all he’ll have to remember his Mammy…’

In the pale light of dawn, Sheila holds her precious baby close, tears welling in her eyes. For weeks she has been planning her escape to America, away from the cruel man she’s been forced to marry, who refuses to raise a child who’s not his own. But war is coming, making the crossing from Ireland far too dangerous for a child. Her chest aches with the most impossible decision: to keep her son truly safe, she must give him away…

As she says her last goodbyes in the shadow of the adoption house, Sheila takes the diary she’s poured her heart into and tucks it in amongst his blankets, whispering a promise: ‘One day, we’ll meet again, little one…’

Now, Sheila must escape her husband, facing the dangerous journey across the ocean, praying that one day she and her son can be reunited. But as she watches Ireland vanish over the horizon from the deck of the boat, her heart stops at a sickening thud, and the ship’s bells start to ring. Can she survive the perilous crossing to America? And will she ever make it back to her son?

An utterly heartbreaking and emotional novel about hope in dark places and the power of a mother’s love, perfect for fans of Jean Grainger, Lisa Wingate and Diney Costeloe.

BUY LINK

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0GGZJHFNYsocial

MY THOUGHTS

“I switched off then, mesmerised by the carriage clock’s tick, wishing I could rewind time so that I was still outside pulling the winter vegetables.”

Finding the love of her life does not bring Sheila Reilly lifelong happiness. Instead, decisions are forced upon her and she loses the love that she found. Now pregnant, Sheila desperately wants to give her unborn baby the best life possible. Sadly, that choice is taken from her, leaving her to face unimaginable heartbreak. Until now, Sheila has recorded her most precious thoughts in a diary. But even that is taken from her.

Sheila finds herself at the St Patrick’s Mother and Baby Home, where her time is anything but easy. Alongside the grueling work, she has had to endure the nuns’ forced name change to Marie. Set in Ireland in 1939, this emotionally charged and captivating story delves into Sheila’s resilience as she navigates the difficult and heart-wrenching decisions as she navigates the difficult and heartbreaking circumstances thrust upon her. 

Michelle Vernal has written compelling stories in this Irish Adoption House series. Although all are wonderful stories that will grab readers’ hearts, each book works well as a standalone.

What a touching story of resilience and survival! This truly heartbreaking and emotional read is a testament to Vernal’s as a storyteller. She brings to life the pain, struggles and resilience of a woman who consistently had choices taken away from her. This reader will be most certainly be back for more.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michelle Vernal is a New Zealand author who writes stories that will take you onto the page with her characters and make you feel part of their lives. She writes with humour and warmth, and her readers describe her books as unputdownable, feel good and funny. Her writing has been likened to Maeve Binchy but with a modern-day vernacular. In 2015 she was shortlisted for the Love Stories Award. In 2020 she won the Reader’s Favorite Gold Medal Award for Chick lit, and in 2021 was shortlisted for the Page Turner Book Awards.

• Mailing List: https://bookouture.com/subscribe/michelle-vernal
• Website: https://www.michellevernalbooks.com/
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BLOG TOUR - To His Ex-Wife

To His Ex-Wife 

by Willow Rose

SeriesThe Stone Family Book 2

PublisherBookouture

GenrePsychological Thriller

FormatKindle ARC

Pages295

Pub. Date
October 15, 2026

Rating⭐⭐⭐⭐

DESCRIPTION

She sent me a letter. I thought she was dead.

Hidden away in their remote cottage in Florida, Emma and her stepdaughter Lily are finally safe to live a peaceful life. Each morning, they plan their new lives over fresh strawberries and perfectly cooked eggs. But despite the locks on every door, neither of them has slept since Lily’s father—Emma’s ex—went to prison. They don’t always get along, but without Emma, Lily would have no-one to look after her. And without Lily, Emma would have nowhere to live…

But then an envelope arrives at the door.

And Emma immediately recognizes the pristine envelope, and the flawless handwriting of Lily’s dead mother.

To his ex-wife,

You thought he killed me,

But the person you should fear the most is still inside your house…

An addictive, jaw-dropping psychological thriller from a multi-million-copy bestseller Willow Rose. For fans of Tess Gerritsen, Freida McFadden and Jeneva Rose.

BUY LINK

• Amazon: https://geni.us/B0GXG1XHNFsocial

MY THOUGHTS

Willow Rose readers may have read the first book in the Stone Family series, To His New Wife. If you want to get to know the Stone family, I highly recommend starting with that book. When we last met Emma, she was navigating a new life, and her involvement with a married man turned out to be just the tip of the iceberg when it came to the drama surrounding this family.

In this installment, Emma’s new husband, Benjamin, is now in prison for killing his ex-wife. Although his guilt was not immediately established, perhaps justice is finally being served. Some time has passed as we begin this story, and Emma and her now-stepdaughter, Lily, are trying to navigate life together. However, it is clear that Lily blames Emma for the loss of her mother, and the tension between them is so thick you could cut it with a knife!

Shockingly, Emma receives a letter purportedly from Benjamin’s ex-wife, and its contents leave her terrified. Could this possibly be true? Is she still alive? Are her claims legitimate? And if so, how will Emma and Lily ever find a way to get along? These are just some of the questions to consider as you read this thrilling story, which is filled with a few surprises and a shocking ending. Expertly narrated, the tension was palpable.

Does Willow Rose have more drama in store for the Stone family? Let’s hope so! In the meantime, I’ll be waiting with bated breath to see what happens next.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Willow Rose is a multi-million-copy bestselling author of more than 90 novels. Several of her books have reached the top 10 of all books in the Amazon store in the US, UK, and Canada. She has sold more than seven million books, which have been translated into many languages. Willow’s books are fast-paced, nail-biting page-turners with twists you won’t see coming; that’s why her fans call her "The Queen of Plot Twists". Willow lives on Florida’s Space Coast. When she is not writing or reading, you will find her surfing and watching the dolphins play in the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

• Mailing List:https://bookouture.com/subscribe/willow-rose
• Website: https://www.willow-rose.net
• Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/willowredrose
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• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/willowroseauthor
• Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4804769.Willow_Rose

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Review - The Mysterious Affair at Styles

The Mysterious Affair at Styles

by Agatha Christie

SeriesHercules Poirot #1

PublisherWarbler Classics

Genre[genre]

FormatKindle ARC

Pages174

Pub. DateOctober 1, 2020

Rating⭐⭐⭐⭐½

DESCRIPTION

Agatha Christie's debut novel was also the first to feature Hercule Poirot, her famously eccentric Belgian detective. 

A refugee of the Great War, Poirot has settled in England near Styles Court, the country estate of his wealthy benefactor, the elderly Emily Inglethorp. When Emily is poisoned and the authorities are baffled, Poirot puts his prodigious sleuthing skills to work. Suspects are plentiful, including the victim’s much younger husband, her resentful stepsons, her longtime hired companion, a young family friend working as a nurse, and a London specialist on poisons who just happens to be visiting the nearby village. 

All of them have secrets they are desperate to keep, but none can outwit Poirot as he navigates the ingenious red herrings and plot twists that contribute to Agatha Christie's well-deserved reputation as the queen of mystery.

MY THOUGHTS

It brings me immense joy to revisit The Mysterious Affair at Styles. I first stumbled upon these books as a child while exploring my great-grandmother’s modest library. Over the years, she had diligently collected numerous installments in the renowned Hercules Poirot Series. As an avid reader from a young age, I was captivated by these books and the first few pages compelled me to devour everything. While I may not have read them in chronological order, I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to do so in the coming months.

Agatha Christie fans are introduced to the unforgettable Belgian detective Hercules Poirot in this book. When I think of Poirot, the first things that come to mind are his impeccable mustache, his equally impeccable skills at detection, his exacting nature, and his little habits that I still remember, even decades after meeting the remarkable detective. 

In this first installment, Poirot is summoned to Styles Court, a country estate, following the untimely demise of Emily Ingelthorpe, the estate’s mistress. As readers are introduced to Poirot, we also meet his close friend, Arthur Hastings, who would later appear in several other Christie’s novels.

Hastings is visiting the estate and following Mrs. Ingelthorpe’s death, he strongly suggests that there is only one person capable of getting to the bottom of things, and this includes the method of her death, as well as the motive and the killer. He speaks highly of Poirot’s brilliance and detective experience. 

Christie keeps the suspense going, as more than one person could have committed the murder, and this is where readers begin to appreciate Poirot’s extraordinary deductive skills. The suspense is intensified as Christie skillfully plants red herrings throughout the narrative. The conclusion is delightful as Poirot untangles even the most deceptive of clues, bringing the mystery to a satisfying, if not surprising, resolution. I am very much looking forward to reading the next Poirot mystery, The Murder on the Links, published in 1923. 

Robin Loves Reading

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - In the Shadow of Eight

  

In the Shadow of Eight

by Collin Gosselin

PublisherGrand Central Publishing

GenreMemoir

FormatAudiobook

NarratorCollin Gosselin

Length7 hrs 15 mins

Pages283

Pub. DateOctober 13, 2026

Rating⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

DESCRIPTION

Collin Gosselin, one of the sextuplets from Jon & Kate Plus 8, breaks his silence to share the shocking story hidden behind the facade of a picture-perfect family. 

For years, the world watched Jon & Kate Plus 8 through a lens of curated joy. But while the cameras captured the milestones, they missed the moments that defined Collin Gosselin’s life: the Christmas morning where the gifts were reclaimed as soon as the cameras went down, and the basement room where silence was his only companion.

In the Shadow of Eight is the first account of a secret childhood lived in the gaps between the frames. Collin is finally sharing the truth about being held down, the basement cell where he was hidden for years, and the cocktail of powerful antipsychotics forced on an eleven-year-old boy. This is a reckoning with the dark side of fame: the systems, the entourage, and the institutions that allowed one boy to be erased. This is the never before told story of how he escaped and found his way back from the dark.

MY THOUGHTS

I am not afraid to admit that I am drawn to reality television, especially when families are concerned. For years, I watched the Duggar family, the Bates family, and the Gosselin family. The Gosselins’ fame grew on TLC with the popular show Jon & Kate Plus 8, and later Kate Plus 8 after the couple split up. Their divorce was well-publicized, and for reasons I am not fully aware of, Jon Gosselin soon became estranged from his children.

The child in question for this review is now 22 years old, and it is Collin Gosselin, one of the sextuplets, consisting of three boys and three girls, with two older children who are twins. The full title of this book is In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood. Of course, this is Collin’s memoir and his version of what he had to experience. Personally, I had to stop watching the show after Jon left because Kate grew to be more and more intolerable. Is she guilty of the claims Collin makes in this book? That is not up to me, the reader, or the former fan, to answer.

I have to make another confession about a show I have been watching for the past three years, Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test. This year, Collin is one of the participants. Reading this book, watching him on that show, and watching the various interviews he has given have truly made me sympathetic to the things he experienced as a young child. Quite naturally, the scars he carries on the inside may never truly heal.

My prejudicial view in choosing Collin’s side stems from being constantly and painfully reminded of what Dave Pelzer relayed about his own childhood experiences in A Child Called “It,” The Lost Boy, and A Man Named Dave. There were other books Pelzer wrote, but I just could not read anymore.

Collin is now a young man in college, and I am genuinely interested in seeing where his future takes him. After reading his account of his childhood, I cannot help but feel for the little boy he once was and the pain he has had to carry into adulthood. No child should have to face the kinds of experiences Collin describes, and my heart aches for what he says he endured. While none of us can change his past, I hope the years ahead bring him the peace, healing, and happiness he deserves. Most of all, I hope he knows that his childhood does not have to define the man he becomes.

Robin Loves Reading

Review - Malice in Puzzle Land

 

Malice in Puzzle Land

by Roz Noonan

SeriesAlice Pepper Lonely Hearts and Puzzle Club #3

PublisherKensington Cozies

GenreCozy Mystery

FormatKindle ARC

Pages367

Pub. DateJuly 28, 2026

Rating⭐⭐⭐⭐

DESCRIPTION

If her life were a puzzle, librarian Alice Pepper would be constantly adding pieces to it. Starting over after a divorce has opened up her world. Everyone in the small Oregon town that Alice calls home has something to add to the big picture. But the murder of one of their own leaves a gaping hole . . .

Alice is excited that the library is going to host its first-ever speed-puzzling competition—until time runs out on a prominent local woman. Glamorous realtor to the rich, Babe Kinkaid, is found floating in her own infinity pool. What police first suspect is an accident or medical crisis turns out to be a homicide when the autopsy reveals that Babe has been shot.

Babe’s complicated love life leaves no shortage of suspects—including two ex-husbands and a fiancé. Then there’s her family, complete with a spoiled daughter, a ne’er-do-well son, and an always overlooked sister. All of them have the same Babe’s massive inheritance.  

Alice faces a ticking clock in this investigation. There are a lot of moving pieces, and before she can shake loose a killer, an explosion and disappearance throw the town into even more of a tumult. It’s up to Alice to click all the clues into place before those nearest and dearest to her become the next victims . . .

Link to shop the series

MY THOUGHTS

I’d love for my life to be a puzzle, with the joy and satisfaction of solving it along the way. Perhaps this is what librarian Alice Pepper experiences. However, not by choice. A divorce has resulted in forcing Alice to start over. She loves her job as a librarian, and solving jigsaw puzzles is one of her favorite hobbies

With her library being chosen to host a speed-puzzling competition, Alice couldn’t be more excited. However, her enthusiasm is dampened Babe Kincaid, a prominent local realtor, is found dead. The police are trying to determine the cause of her death and as they begin to piece together what happened, the truth proves to be shocking.

Alice decides to do what she has become quite accustomed to lately: solve a murder. Despite being successful before, this time things might be different. Babe led a complicated life, leaving behind several men who may have and their own reasons for wanting her dead. Factor in her own family issues, Alice just might be overwhelmed. While solving jigsaw puzzles can help develop problem-solving skills, Alice soon discovers that putting the pieces of real life together is an entirely different challenge, especially when nefarious motives are involved.

I love this series! The previous books, Puzzle Me a Murder and That Missing Piece is Killing Me, were thoroughly entertaining, and this latest installment is equally enjoyable. I watching Alice searching for clues, and gradually putting the pieces together. Seeing her in her element has is such a pleasure, and Roz Noonan has once again delivered an enjoyable cozy mystery that kept me entertained. I’m already hoping Alice will be returned for another puzzling adventure!

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rosalind Noonan is a New York Times bestselling author of contemporary fiction. A former editor in New York City, she currently writes fiction for Kensington Publishing and the Laura Mori Mysteries for Crooked Lane. 

In collaboration with friends and bestselling authors Lisa Jackson and Nancy Bush, she has written two suspense thrillers set in Wyoming: Sinister and Ominous. Her work has appeared in anthologies with Lisa Jackson, Nancy Bush and Fern Michaels. 

Her Christmas Chicklit novel Charming Christmas was made into a film for the Hallmark Channel starring David Sutcliffe and Julie Bentz. She helped produce two monster TV movies for children based on a children’s book series she created called Shadow Zone. Oscar-winning actor Ron Silver appeared in one of those films, Undead Express, which appeared on Showtime.

Robin Loves Reading

BLOG TOUR - Her Lips Are Sealed

Her Lips Are Sealed

by Helen Phifer

SeriesDetective Morgan Brookes, Book 19

PublisherBookouture

GenreMystery & Thrillers

FormatKindle ARC

Pages282

Pub. DateSeptember 28, 2026

Rating⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

DESCRIPTION

The cottage sits pretty with ornate, stone walls and embers still glowing cozy in the fireplace within, the remnants of a happy, sheltered life. But a woman's body lies still on the floor, her frozen face smeared with blood-red lipstick. 

Detective Morgan Brookes thinks she’s seen it all, but goosebumps prickle her flesh as she walks inside a beautiful limestone cottage in Rydal Falls to find an innocent young woman strangled to death. The killer has applied lipstick to Rachel Hart and pressed her lips to a letter to seal it with a kiss.

Scrawled handwriting confirms this killer has already chosen his next victim, but the careful, calculated scene only frustrates Morgan when she finds no more clues. Rachel’s solitary life, dedicated to her tabby cat and barely speaking to her sister, yields no suspects. Until Morgan finds out about an argument between Rachel and her cleaner. Did the ex-employee murder her in cold blood and cover his tracks?

Finding two photos of Rachel in a Ziplock bag inside the cleaner’s home, Morgan’s team lock him up. And when Morgan receives a hysterical call from a mother after finding her only daughter strangled, another letter buried at the scene, she should be able to tell the woman justice has already been served. But something about this case just doesn’t feel right. The timelines don’t add up, and Morgan feels watched in her own home. Can she uncover the truth and find this killer, or is she already too late to save the next victim?

Fans of Angela Marsons, Lisa Regan and Rachel Abbott will devour this unforgettable rollercoaster of a crime thriller late into the night.

Link to shop the series

MY THOUGHTS

The Detective Morgan Brookes series is 19 books in and continues to impress me just as much as all of the previous installments. In this book, Morgan's latest case begins when a woman has been murdered. As Morgan looks at the victim’s body, it is clear that it has been staged, and with a letter left on the victim that indicates a clear signature, Morgan is certain that the killer is in no way finished. Can she and her team work quickly enough to prevent another young woman from losing her life?

As Morgan delves into the victim’s life, nothing jumps out at her that points to motive. When she does find a clue, she acts with swift determination to identify and stop the killer before they claim another victim. Sadly, when a very distraught mother calls Morgan, it is with the devastating news that she found her daughter dead. Although Morgan recognizes similarities between the murders, she senses that there could be more to these crimes than meets the eye.

Meanwhile, Morgan has reason to feel uneasy about her own safety, and she realizes that she is truly in a race against time when it comes to solving this latest case. Throughout the investigation, Morgan and her team work together in person synchronicity. I particularly enjoy the humor they share, which highlights the warmth of their relationships and provides a welcome balance to the darkness of the crimes they investigate.

I have loved this series from the very first book, and each exciting installment brings a fresh case that keeps me coming back for more. While each book could be read as a standalone, watching Morgan grow personally and professionally, along with the development of her relationships, makes this a series I would encourage readers to enjoy in order. Fast-paced, suspenseful, and with a memorable ending, this 19th installment is a winner. I’m already looking forward to seeing what Helen Phifer has in store for Morgan and her team next!

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Helen Phifer is the bestselling writer of the hugely popular Detective Morgan Brookes series. As well as the Lucy Harwin, Beth Adams and Maria Miller series of books.

Her debut novel The Ghost House featuring Annie Graham went on to be a global bestseller.

She lives in the busy town of Barrow-in-Furness surrounded by miles of coastline and a short drive from the glorious English Lake District. Her favourite hobbies include reading, chasing the Aurora Borealis when it puts in an appearance, visiting Salem, watching the sunset, the moon rise and drinking coffee.

Helen loves reading books that scare the heck out of her and is eternally grateful to Stephen King, Dean Koontz, James Herbert and Graham Masterton for scaring her senseless in her teenage years, and to Alice Hoffman’s beautiful stories for inspiring her love of all things witchy and to write fantasy novels alongside her crime thrillers.

Or find her over at www.helenphifer.com

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