TRIGGER WARNING: suspected infertility and miscarriage, serious childhood illness
Charlotte is desperate for a baby but is disappointed every month. Then her partner Zack destroys all her hope and she leaves him. A holiday one night stand results in a baby but Charlotte is shocked when she discovers the true identity of her lover…
The Dilemma is a domestic and psychological drama. Emotion is high throughout and the plot developments create fascinating thought provoking questions in the readers’ minds.
Charlotte’s desire to have a baby is all-consuming but Zack has been hiding a secret which utterly ruins her trust in him so she runs away. A night of passion results in a pregnancy which thrills her whilst also scaring her. She discovers the identity of her lover and is devastated but resolves to keep quiet. However her baby’s illness means that Charlotte needs to confront the circumstances of his conception even if it destroys her and his father.
The identity of the baby’s father was completely obvious, especially if you have read the blurb! However the mystery was not necessary to provide a captivating emotional situation. Secrets form the heart of the dilemmas in this book alongside a break down of the trust which is intrinsic to relationships.
The majority of the book is written from Charlotte’s first person perspective but there are a few chapter written from a different first person perspective. The characters are written in such a believable manner that it is easy to understand their actions and choices.
The Dilemma is a absorbing and entertaining novel packed full of emotion.
Book Description:
My child means everything to me. But saving his life means destroying my best friend’s family…
I didn’t plan to fall pregnant, but when I found out, I was overjoyed. Even though I’d be going it alone, I swore I’d give my baby everything they needed.
But I didn’t know who the man I met on that sweltering summer night, the father of my child, really was.
I decided to keep his secret to protect the innocent… but then my beautiful baby was born with a rare illness, desperately needing a transplant.
Now, as I gaze into my son’s wide and trusting eyes, I know the choice I have to make: for the sake of my precious little boy, I have to destroy my friend’s happiness.
But when the truth comes out, what if saving my baby means losing him forever?
An absolutely gripping and emotional read about the choices and sacrifices we make for those we love. Fans of Liane Moriarty, Amanda Prowse and Susan Lewis will love The Dilemma.
Author Bio:
Julia was born in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, and began her career as a professional singer/dancer. This enabled her to travel the world in her late teens storing up experiences she has since included in her writing.
Following roles as a hostess on The Price is Right and a member of the Beadle’s About ‘hit squad’ in the 1980s, she became a TV Presenter and filmed features for Sky Sports before launching the QVC shopping channel in 1993 where she still presents today. Having always wanted to write, she penned her first book, a memoir sold on QVC, in 2013 and has since written seven full length novels, two novellas and several short stories.
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Lady Beatrice is the granddaughter of the king and queen. A man is found dead on her estate and the police officer in charge is the dreadful man who investigated her husband’s death fourteen years earlier. She is determined to find the killer first…
Spruced Up For Murder is a cosy murder mystery and the first in a new series. I read the initial couple of chapters and thought it was set in the past but the use of a mobile phone made me realise it is a modern setting!
Bea is a widow and has lived like a recluse since her husband died. Now she has a purpose and is renovating part of her ancestral home when a member of staff is killed. There is a connection between the dead man and her husband’s death but Bea struggles to find anyone with motive and opportunity. She is ably assisted in the renovation and murder investigation by Perry Juke who is simply a divine character. Bea also relies on her beloved dog Daisy and a slightly unhealthy coffee obsession!
I absolutely loved this book. My interest in the plot and characters was maintained until the very end. The antagonism between Bea and Fitzwilliam was fun to read as they try to remain respectful but score points against each other. It was heartwarming to see Bea and Perry (and his partner Simon) developing a close friendship. They bring her out of her shell which allows her to forget the pain of her past. I enjoyed the use of a different fictional royal family and felt completely immersed in the storyline.
Spruced Up For Murder was a fantastic read and I can’t wait for more!
Spruced Up for Murder
Death at Francis Court Now Confirmed as Murder!
Speculation is rife that the victim, estate manager Alex Sterling (44), was found by Lady Beatrice (35), the Countess of Rossex, niece of King James. Lady Beatrice, who has finally come out of hiding following her son’s departure to boarding school, has been managing the project to refurbish and redesign the Events Suite at Francis Court, alongside Perry Juke.
Heading up the murder investigation is Detective Chief Inspector Richard Fitzwilliam. Rumour has it that he and Lady Beatrice have a fractious history…
 Awful man! How dare Fitzwilliam suggest Lady Beatrice’s sister is the number one suspect for Alex’s murder. It could be any one of the staff who were on-site that morning. Well, she’ll show Mr High and Mighty Fitzwilliam! With her attention to detail, her clever dog Daisy, Perry’s imagination, and his partner’s contacts at Fenshire CID, they’ll find the murderer before him.
Unless the murderer finds her first…
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Author Bio –
Hello. I’m Helen Golden. I write British contemporary cozy whodunnits with a hint of humour. I live in small village in Lincolnshire in the UK with my husband, my step-daughter, her two cats, our two dogs, sometimes my step-son, and our tortoise.
After my recent job came to a natural end I had the opportunity to follow my dreams and start writing. It’s very early in my life as an author, but so far I’m loving it.
It’s crazy busy at our house, so when I’m writing I retreat to our caravan (an impulsive lockdown purchase) which is mostly parked on our drive. When I really need total peace and quiet, I take it to a lovely site about 15 minutes away and hide there until my family runs out of food or clean clothes
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Kitty Underhay is organising an exclusive 21st birthday riverboat party for the Chief Constable’s daughter. Her fiance Matthew is following a man who is then discovered dead on board the boat. Then a priceless necklace goes missing: are the two events linked?
Murder On Board is the 10th book in the Kitty Underhay cosy murder mystery series set in Devon.
Kitty and Matthew’s wedding is approaching and she is hiring a new manager for the Dolphin Hotel. Life for Kitty is settled and she is looking forward to getting this party over and done with. But Matthew has been secretly tailing a man for the government who is then found dead. The boat was filled with police personnel yet a second crime then occurs!
The party scenario provides a plethora of suspects for Kitty, Matthew and Inspector Greville to interview. The social and gender constructs of the 1930s have been well researched and support the personal character developments as well as the overall murder plot. As you would expect from this genre, there is little violence or forensic detail. However there is plenty of drama and tension!
Murder On Board is an enjoyable murder mystery and I am looking forward to seeing how the dynamics adapt following the imminent wedding…
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Book: Murder on Board
Author: Helena DixonÂ
Pub Day: Oct 19th 2022Â
About the Book:Â
Kitty Underhay is drowning… in murder.
Kitty Underhay hopes for plain sailing as she caters a 21st birthday party for the Chief Constable’s daughter aboard a luxury paddle steamer. So her heart sinks when she learns that the man her fiancé Matthew has been tailing on orders from Whitehall, Gunther Freiburg, is aboard. And she’s even more horrified when she steps below deck to discover Gunther, dead in the engine room. One of the Chief Constable’s party must be responsible for his demise, but who, and why?
And the evening is on course for further disaster. As the lights go out around the candlelit cake, a terrible scream rings out over the merry hubbub. A priceless diamond necklace has been snatched from around the birthday girl’s neck… Something fishy is going on, but is this the work of the same sailing assassin, or is it a red herring?
With the local inspector in deep water having to investigate his own boss, Kitty and Matt dive in to help. But when Kitty’s eavesdropping puts her in mortal danger, will everything turn out shipshape, or will it be her turn to go swimming with the fishes…?
A totally cozy, absolutely gripping historical murder mystery! The perfect read for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Lee Strauss.
Author Bio
Helena Dixon splits her time between the Black Country and Devon. Married to the same man for over thirty five years she has three daughters, a cactus called Spike, and a crazy cockapoo. She is allergic to adhesives, apples, tinsel and housework. Her addictions of choice are coffee and reality TV. She was winner of The Romance Prize in 2007 and Love Story of the Year 2010 as Nell Dixon. She now writes historical 1930’s set cozy crime. Nell enjoys hearing from readers and you can read her news and contact her via her website at http://www.nelldixon.com
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Edwina has been dumped so throws herself into a renovation project in picturesque Sandy Cove. Can she heal her heart and get a fresh start?
The Lost Letters Of Ireland is the 5th romance novel in the Starlight Cottages series by Susanne O’Leary. It is set in Ireland in the present day and we are reunited with characters from earlier books.
The plot revolves around Edwina who is a city girl with a broken heart. She heads to the coast to lead on a property development but fears opposition from locals so keeps her intentions quiet. On her first day she meets the locum doctor and there is an instant tension between the pair. Alongside this romance, there is a separate plotline about a message in a bottle and other letters which are discovered in one of the cottages.
There is plenty of rich description and as usual the landscape features strongly. The characters all go on a journey of discovery and self awareness over the course of the book. Edwina needs to build bridges and develop relationships with her family whilst also having the chance to find someone who values her. The locals are welcoming and there is the opportunity to catch up on the main characters from previus books in the series.
The Lost Letters Of Ireland is a warm toned novel centred around a gently developing romance.
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Book: The Lost Letters of Ireland
Author: Susanne O’LearyÂ
Pub Day:Â October 20th 2022
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A totally captivating story about long-lost family secrets and new beginnings, that will whisk you away to the village of Sandy Cove on the gorgeous Irish coast.
Heartbroken and feeling lost after the end of her last relationship, Edwina is looking for a fresh start. And when she hears that a coastguard cottage in the tiny village of Sandy Cove is for sale, she knows it could be her chance. She remembers the village from her childhood with its beautiful sandy white beaches, and wonders if using her life savings to buy the cottage might give her a new beginning in the Irish town beside the sea.
Not long after she arrives, Edwina discovers a message in a bottle during one of her walks along the coast. Written twenty years ago and washed ashore at Wild Rose Bay, it tells the story of a desperate young man, driven to despair after a terrible accident that left him separated from his true love. Touched by his heartbreaking letter, and haunted by its contents, Edwina resolves to find the person who wrote it.
As she begins her search, Edwina meets Shane O’Flaherty, a charming local doctor with green eyes, with whom she feels an instant connection. As the pair walk the cobbled streets of the village together, Edwina’s feelings grow stronger, and she begins to wonder whether Sandy Cove might be the place she can finally call home…
But when she uncovers the identity of the person who wrote the letter all those years ago, everything Edwina thought she knew about Shane changes in an instant. Has she unearthed a secret that should never have come to light? And will it force her to leave the place where she thought she had finally found happiness?
Fans of Sheila O’Flanagan, Mary Alice Monroe and Debbie Macomber will fall in love with this gripping, heart-warming and utterly charming Irish romance.
AUTHOR BIO
Susanne O’Leary is the bestselling author of more than twenty novels, mainly in the romantic fiction genre. She has also written three crime novels and two in the historical fiction genre. She has been the wife of a diplomat (still is), a fitness teacher and a translator. She now writes full-time from either of two locations, a ramshackle house in County Tipperary, Ireland or a little cottage overlooking the Atlantic in Dingle, County Kerry. When she is not scaling the mountains of said counties, or keeping fit in the local gym, she keeps writing, producing a book every six months.
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