From the Book Elf

Christmas at the Board Game Cafe  by Jennifer Page Christmas at the Board Game Cafe by Jennifer Page was published in October 2024 by Head of Zeus. My thanks to the author and the publisher for sending me a copy to review and to Rachel at Rachel's Random Reads for inviting me onto the tour. Synopsis Kate seems to have it all – wonderful friends, a successful career and an idyllic life in the quirky Yorkshire town of Essendale. But under the surface Kate’s lonely, and she longs to feel part of a family – especially during Christmas. With the holiday season fast approaching, and the town desperate to attract more visitors, Kate conceives a brilliant plan: an enchanting living Advent calendar. Each December evening, a captivating window display will be unveiled across town. With local businesses struggling, including her best friend’s board game café, she's feeling the pressure. But Kate’s picture-perfect plans take an unexpected turn when her ex-boyfriend arrives in Yorkshire, ...

The Peacock and the Sparrow by I.S. Berry The Peacock and the Sparrow  was published on 24th October 2024 by No Exit Press.  My thanks to the author and the publisher for sending me a copy to review and to  Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part on the tour. Synopsis Shane Collins, a world-weary CIA spy, is ready to come in from the cold. Stationed in Bahrain for his final tour, he’s anxious to dispense with his mission — uncovering Iranian support for the insurgency. But then he meets Almaisa, an enigmatic artist, and his eyes are opened to a side of Bahrain most expats never experience, to questions he never thought to ask. When his trusted informant becomes embroiled in a murder, Collins finds himself drawn deep into the conflict, his romance and loyalties upended. In an instant, he’s caught in the crosswinds of a revolution. He sets out to learn the truth behind the Arab Spring, win Almaisa’s love, and uncover the murky border where Bahrain’s secrets end and...

 A Recipe For Christmas  by Jo Thomas A Recipe For Christmas by Jo Thomas  was published on 10th October 2024 by Penguin. My thanks to the Author and Publisher for sending me a copy to review and to  Random Things Tours for inviting me on the tour. Synopsis Take one woman longing for the perfect Christmas… All Clara has ever wanted is Christmas surrounded by loved ones, full of warmth and delicious food. So, when her new boyfriend asks her to move to Switzerland, she can't help but say yes! After all, what could be more perfect than Christmas in the Alps? Add a dash of surprise She quickly signs up for a chocolate-making course, imagining a workshop like something out of a festive advert. Instead, it's chocolate-making bootcamp! And her boyfriend isn't all he seemed either. And enjoy a magical festive treat! My Review For me Jo Thomas never disappoints when you need a nice, easy read that will give you a few hours of escapism, in this case with a nice mug of ...

Holmes and Moriarty  by Gareth Rubin Holmes and Moriarty by Gareth Rubin  was published on 12th September 2024 by Simon & Schuster. My thanks to the author and publisher for sending me a copy to review and to Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part on the tour. Synopsis Sherlock Holmes and his faithful friend, Dr John Watson, have been hired by actor George Reynolds. George wants them to find out why the audience who comes to see him perform every night are the same people, only wearing disguises. Is something sinister going on and, if so, what? Meanwhile, Holmes’ archenemy, Professor James Moriarty is having problems of his own. Implicated in the murder of a gang leader, Moriarty and his second, Moran, must go on the run from the police in order to find out who is behind the set-up. But their investigation puts them in the way of Holmes and Watson and it’s not long before all four realise that they are being targeted by the same person. With lives on the l...

Bella’s Countryside Christmas  by Claire Huston Bella's Countryside Christmas by Claire Huston  was published by Goldcrest books. My thanks to the author and the publisher for sending me a copy to review and to  Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for asking me to take part on the tour. Synopsis Fleeing her heartache and horrendous job, Bella stumbles upon a December wedding in the beautiful village of Haileybrook and the spirit of the season moves her to act as a fake date to handsome stranger Jack. Jack and Bella hit it off, but Bella has to leave in a hurry and their magical evening soon becomes nothing more than a blissful memory. A year later, Bella is returning to Haileybrook, seeking a fresh start and a quieter life. With a new job close to her cosy cottage home, a peaceful Christmas is surely only days away. But it’s not long before family surprises, small-town feuds and romantic drama disrupt Bella’s plans, and she has to wonder if being alone is what she really ...

Blood Debt  by M.K. Murphy Blood Debt by M.K. Murphy  will be published on 12th September by HQ. My thanks to the author and the publisher for sending me a copy to review and to  Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part on the tour. Synopsis Justice is served As criminal gangs rampage unchecked across London, a secretive elite squad begins a campaign of action, delivering the guilty to the cops – along with all the evidence they need for a conviction. Lines are drawn But when innocent people are shot after the vigilante crew blunders into a major police operation – Detective Rick Turner among the unintended victims – it’s clear they must be stopped. Rick’s brother Sam might be able to help, but he’s a fugitive from the law himself, on nobody’s side but his own. In too deep As Sam and Rick are drawn into a vast criminal web, allegiances are tested to the limit. mistrusted by his bosses, and targeted by a deadly enemy out for revenge, Rick must decide where his true...