Roberta Reads

Wisteria Wyverns by Angela Pepper My rating: 4 of 5 stars 🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧 A very enjoyable mystery, with all the usual magic, sass etc. The narration was excellent, as always. View all my reviews

Meat Cute: The Hedgehog Incident by Gail Carriger My rating: 5 of 5 stars 🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧 An excellent book. It was so much fun to finally find out what happened when Alexia and Conall first met - the Hedgehog Incident. As the author warns us, you definitely won’t get as much out of this if you’ve not read at least Soulless, but if (like me) you’ve read all the author’s books, there are so many wonderful references and little nuggets about well loved characters. The narration was excellent, and the result thoroughly enjoyable. Definitely one I’ll be listening to over and over! View all my reviews

The Case of the Blue Violet by Robin Stevens My rating: 4 of 5 stars A fun, very short case in this excellent series. It was great to see things from a different point of view as well, it did make me chuckle. I’d definitely recommend this if you’re a fan of the series. I’m not sure how well it would work if you haven’t read any of the full length books though. View all my reviews

Betwixt by Darynda Jones My rating: 5 of 5 stars I had so much fun with this book. Defiance (aka Dephne) is such a great character. She’s clearly been through a rough time, but she’s not going to let that stop her. She’s moved to a new town, to a house mysteriously left to her, and discovers new abilities. I love the chapter headings (that’s not the right word, but the little quote at the top), I love all the characters, and the character development. I love the magic. I’m so looking forward to reading the next book in the series, and getting to know the characters even more, this book just wasn’t enough! View all my reviews

Starfell: Willow Moss and the Forgotten Tale by Dominique Valente My rating: 4 of 5 stars I have not read the previous book in this series, but the cover and description looked fun, so I decided to go for it. I am therefore reviewing this book as a standalone. I enjoyed this book, it is a fun, magical adventure, with lots of interesting characters. I thought it worked well by itself, though it is clearly part of an overarching story too. I liked Willow, she’s very accepting of people who are different to her. The world was an intriguing one, I loved the magical plants particularly. It’s clear that dark forces are gathering in Starfell, and I’ll be on the lookout for the next book, to find out what happens. A fun adventure that is well worth reading, full of interesting and unusual characters. I’d definitely recommend this book. I received a free copy of this book. My opinions are my own. View all my reviews

Spring Tides at Swallowtail Bay: The perfect laugh-out-loud romantic comedy for summer! by Katie Ginger My rating: 4 of 5 stars I enjoyed this book, it was pleasant and easy to read. The romance was gentle, and didn’t really start until half way through the story. I thought the friendship between Stella and Lexi was lovely to see, and there were many interesting characters. Not to mention Frank (the dog). I’d love to read another book set in the same place, focussing on other characters. The guests that Stella had staying in the holiday lets gave me a good few chuckles. Although a couple of phrases (too handsome to be single, and feeling guilty being every woman’s default mode) annoyed me, this book was an excellent and relaxing way to while away a few hours. I’d definitely recommend it. I was given a free copy of this book. My opinions are my own. View all my reviews

The Unadoptables by Hana Tooke My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book was excellent. It’s all about 5 orphans who are just a little different to everyone else, and how they find their place in the world. It mostly centres on Milou trying to find her parents, but there’s so much more to this story! It’s a fun adventure, it’s just a little bit creepy, and the ending is so satisfying. I love the relationships between the five children. I adore the illustrations, which are so perfect for the story, and a delight to look at. I really hope that there will be sequels to this book, detailing how the other children came to be at the orphanage. I would be particularly interested in reading Egg’s story. If you love tales of found family, exciting adventure, and finding your own place in the world, with just a little gothic creepiness, this is the book for you. I was given a free copy of this book. My opinions are my own. View all my reviews

Watchful Wisteria by Angela Pepper My rating: 3 of 5 stars 🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧 I did not enjoy this book quite as much as the previous ones in the series. It had all the things I love about the series - the mystery, the magic, the sass, the relationship between Zara and her daughter Zoe. However, although the narration was, in general, excellent (as always), the voice assigned to Zara’s father really, really grated on me. I think it’s meant to be Irish, and I can’t speak to its accuracy (I’ve not heard enough different Irish accents), but as it was a large part of this story, it rather detracted from my enjoyment. I will persist with the series, as hopefully he’s not in all of them, but I might read this one as an ebook next time around! View all my reviews

A Quiet Life in the Country by T E Kinsey My rating: 5 of 5 stars 🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧 I had so much fun with this audiobook. Having read and enjoyed the ebook of Death Beside the Seaside (Book 6 of this series), and had the audiobooks recommended to me, it was an easy choice to get this and book 2 when I saw them in an Audible 2 for 1 sale. I definitely have not regretted it! The story itself is a fun and lighthearted murder mystery, and fits well into the cozy crime genre. The banter between Lady Hardcastle and Miss Armstrong was so entertaining, and speaks to a deep and long lasting friendship. I enjoyed the mystery itself, and didn’t guess the culprit right near the start, which is definitely a bonus for me. I thought the portrayal of the inspector was great (apologies, I cannot remember his name). He appears to be the cliched policeman who leaps to conclusions initially, but there’s a lot more to him. By the end of the book, I really liked him...

The Cornish Cream Tea Summer: Part One – All You Knead is Love by Cressida McLaughlin My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is a promising start to the second book set aboard Gertie, the Cornish Cream Tea Bus. I enjoyed it a lot, and look forward to reading the following three (I assume) parts. Delilah is an interesting character, although a little irresponsible (leaving before the day is over on her first full day at the film set), she seems warm hearted and lovable. I really hope she will be able to keep her promise to herself to be more responsible with her cousin’s livelihood. It’s lovely to return to the familiar place and people from the previous book in the series, though we haven’t seen a huge amount of them so far. If you like a fun summer romance, this looks like it’s set to be a good one. I was given a free copy of this book. My opinions are my own. View all my reviews

The Beyond by Chloe Neill My rating: 4 of 5 stars This was a most enjoyable end to the series, with all of Chloe Neill’s customary excellent writing, and brilliant storytelling. A very satisfactory wrapping up of the plot, and it was interesting to finally see some of the world beyond the veil. View all my reviews

New Beginnings at Seaside Blooms by Jessica Redland My rating: 2 of 5 stars I only enjoyed about 40% of this book - from about 20% to about 60%. I found Sarah hard to stomach. I cannot understand why she had been with Jason for over 2 years, and has somehow not mentioned that she hates the fitness he’s really into. He doesn’t notice when she’s really upset. Then she stays with him, miserable, for another year! I then enjoyed the part from when she finally breaks up with him to when Andy reappears in her life. Then throughout the rest of the book, she takes totally unclear things she’s seen or heard, and doesn’t bother to verify them, or check with the man she’s decided is The One if they are true. I was simply left with the feeling that he deserved someone who is willing to check facts before abandoning the love of her life. However, I did enjoy the section where Sarah was setting up her shop, and searching for Steven (before she realised who she was...

Emily Windsnap and the Tides of Time by Liz Kessler My rating: 4 of 5 stars I haven’t read any of the previous books in the series, so I’m reviewing this book as a stand-alone. I enjoyed this book. It’s fun to read one that has merpeople in, as I’ve not come across many before. I love the half-sunken boat where Emily and her parents live, that’s such a fun idea. I like the fact that this is not just a magical adventure, but also tackles the issues such as not fitting in and the environment. I loved the illustrations - especially the little fish between each bit of text. Overall, this is an exciting and fun adventure that’s a bit different to the rest. I was given a free copy of this book. My opinions are my own. View all my reviews

Summer on a Sunny Island by Sue Moorcroft My rating: 4 of 5 stars I loved Let it Snow, so picking Summer on a Sunny Island was a no brainer for me. I really love the fact that Sue Moorcroft includes characters who have mental or physical illnesses. This is a lot more realistic than many books that have no characters with illnesses at all! I liked Zach, and the way he tries to help people. Rosa and he seem like a good match as they have many of the same values. I love the way that Rosa and her mum really stand (and speak) up for themselves. To be honest, I liked pretty much all the characters. The Sunny Island of Malta comes across with a good sense of location. The writing is done very well, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the story - it’s always a sign of a great book when I don’t even notice the grammar and spelling. Conclusion: the perfect summer escape if you prefer your romances with realistic characters. I was given a free copy of this book. My ...

Ocean Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the World under the Sea by Julia Rothman My rating: 5 of 5 stars I absolutely loved this book. The illustrations are beautiful, and the content is comprehensive and fascinating. The book begins with the anatomy of the ocean itself, then covers the many, many species of plants and animals living in and around the ocean - including humans. The different ocean environments are covered too - several of the chapters focus on particular ecosystems. The diagrams are so clear and informative throughout, and every page is swarming with the beautiful and lively illustrations. At the end there’s a bibliography and recommendations for further reading. I would have loved this book as a child, and I love it now too. Highly recommended to anyone with an interest in our oceans, and the life therein. I was given a free copy of this book. My opinions are my own. View all my reviews

The Secret Seaside Escape: The most heart-warming, feel-good romance of 2020, from the Sunday Times bestseller! by Heidi Swain My rating: 4 of 5 stars I enjoyed this book, it was a mostly relaxing read. A summer romance with a little bit of mystery. I liked the fact that the characters did not immediately jump into bed together, even though they were attracted to one another. The characters in general seemed realistic and the character development was good. The only thing I found irritating, was the way everyone continually jumped to conclusions and didn’t bother to actually communicate with one another about important topics. If you are looking for a summery romance with a little more depth to it, and some mysteries to uncover, then this is the book for you. I was given a free copy of this book. My opinions are my own. View all my reviews

Bright Dreams: The Brilliant Ideas of Nikola Tesla by Tracy Dockray My rating: 5 of 5 stars This was an excellent introduction to the life of Tesla, suitable for children. I love the illustrations, they really bring the story to life. I like the fact that the author hasn’t glossed over the difficulties that Tesla faced, or simplified the vocabulary. Important terms are explained in the main part of the book, and there is also a glossary at the back (along with suggested places to find more information). Whilst totally suitable for children, this book paints a more realistic portrait of an inventor than most. I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone with children who are interested in science or historical figures. I was given a free copy of this book. My opinions are my own. View all my reviews

The House of Hidden Wonders  by  Sharon Gosling My rating:  5 of 5 stars This is an excellent book. I had so much fun reading Zinnie’s adventures in 1870s Edinburgh. Sharon Gosling has created a totally believable world, and I just love the way she has woven in real people (and included some information on them at the back of the book). The adventure itself is exciting, I found it hard to put my kindle down to go to sleep. However, there is nothing too frightening for the age group it is primarily aimed at (Middle Grade). It is very well written, the characters are all three dimensional. I particularly liked Zinnie - although she has had a very difficult childhood, and had to learn to look after herself, she is still kind and compassionate towards others. I’d recommend this book to children and adults alike, it’s great fun and a joy to read. I will certainly be looking out for more books from Sharon Gosling. I was given a free copy of this book. My opinions ar...

The Secret Lives of Garden Bees by Jean Vernon My rating: 4 of 5 stars I’ve always loved bees of all kinds, and this is a great introduction to the many different species that are found in gardens in the UK. I enjoyed the lively, informal tone, which nonetheless conveyed plenty of information. Each species that might be in a garden is described, usually with a photograph, and practical tips on how to help them shared. Plants that are bee friendly are suggested. The author also includes a handy seasonal guide, with what bees are likely to be present, and what action to take at that time to encourage more bees. Further reading is suggested towards the end of the book, very useful if you’re wanting more information! It’s lovely to see even a non-scientific (as the author herself defines it) book with proper references and an extensive index. This is so helpful when you want to look up specific information at a later date. In conclusion, The Secret Life ...

Princess Kevin by Michaël Escoffier My rating: 3 of 5 stars This was a fun children’s book, in which Kevin attends his school’s costume day as a princess. The illustrations are bright, colourful, and full of activity. The story, though simple, is fun and realistic. It also contains an important message - that it’s just as fine for boys to dress up as “female” characters as for girls to dress up as “male” characters. I enjoyed it. I was given a free copy of this book. My opinions are my own. View all my reviews