Roberta Reads

A Mystery at Lili Villa by Arathi Menon My rating: 4 of 5 stars I picked this book because it has such a beautiful cover. I also love children’s crime. I really enjoyed this story, it was a lot of fun. The three children (Tam, Arj and Mira) who the tale focusses on are great. They each have their own personality and way of going about things. I really loved the way they investigated their suspects, getting to know more about the people around them, and what they are really like. I thought Tam, Arj and Mira showed a realistic balance between wanting to investigate for themselves, and wanting to tell the grown ups. I loved the focus on food too. It was great to have the list of foods at the end, as I wasn’t familiar with all of them. Overall, this was a fun mystery, adventurous, but never too scary. I definitely recommend it - for children and adults. I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own. View all my reviews

Land of Lost Things by Cat Weldon My rating: 4 of 5 stars The previous book in this series (How to be a Hero) was a lot of fun, so I decided to continue the series with The Land of Lost Things. It was very enjoyable to return the the viking universe, and go adventuring with viking Whetstone and valkyrie in training Lotta again. This was another excellent romp, and our heroes come up again some old enemies, and some new ones. This time, they visit Hel (both the place and the god). There are a good few humorous moments, and the plot is well paced. The illustrations by Katie Kear were just as excellent as last time - they are lively and convey a real sense of what is happening in the story. This book was a fun adventure, suitable for children and adults alike. I’m looking forward to the third book in the series. I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own. View all my reviews

Even and Odd by Sarah Beth Durst My rating: 4 of 5 stars Sarah Beth Durst is a new author for me, but I’d seen several recommendations, so I thought I’d give Even and Odd a try. I enjoyed this magical adventure. Even, Odd, and Jeremy are great characters. The character development is good, especially for Jeremy. The world building is really good, both in the magical land of Firoth, and in the mundane world. I liked the idea of the border shops, and the magical beings were fun. The plot was really great, a good blend of the children adventuring on their own, but realistic levels of handing over to parents when available. A lot of children’s books seem to ignore this aspect, so this was good to see. The pacing is good, exciting, but not too tense or scary. Overall, this was a fun and magical adventure, with great characters and convincing world building. I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own. View all my reviews ...

Murder at the Fair by Verity Bright My rating: 4 of 5 stars I very much enjoyed the previous book in this series (Mystery by the Sea), so I was pleased to receive an ARC of Murder at the Fair. This is yet another excellent story in this series. This time Lady Swift is the guest of honour at the May Fair, and recovers the body of one of the competitors in the raft race. Everyone thinks it’s an accident, but she’s not so sure. It was a lot of fun to return to this world, and spend time with Lady Swift, Clifford, Gladstone, and of course the rest of the cast. The plot was interesting, and it was not easy trying to figure out who the culprit was! If you’re looking for a fun historical mystery, I recommend this one. You don’t need to have read the previous books in the series, though it does increase the enjoyment. I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own. View all my reviews

The New Beginnings Bridal Boutique by Kellie Hailes My rating: 3 of 5 stars I’ve read and enjoyed several books by Kellie Hailes, so I was pleased to receive an ARC of The New Beginnings Bridal Boutique. I loved Paige’s bridal boutique, and her passion for remaking things that aren’t perfect. I liked Paige too. Unfortunately, my enjoyment of this book was rather hindered by the fact that I really disliked Cy. His behaviour in the first half to three quarters of the story was manipulative, bordering on controlling. I really can’t stand people who force others into spending time with them, by making a bet, then telling the person they’re a coward if they don’t agree. The writing is excellent and although they seemed so totally wrong for each other for most of the book, once Cy realised how awful he was being (not to mention cowardly - it annoyed me that no one called him on his cowardliness when he was constantly needling Paige about hers), I felt like...

Twitch by M.G. Leonard My rating: 5 of 5 stars I love M. G. Leonard’s books, children’s crime, and birdwatching, so this book was an obvious choice for me. I was so pleased to be given an ARC, and it really didn’t disappoint! I enjoyed this book so much, I read it in the space of a few hours. I loved the way the birdwatching, the crime solving, and the story of friendship, all wove together into one excellent story. I thought that the way Twitch struggles to work out who he can trust was really well written (as, of course, was the whole book). This story will sweep you away on adventure, and it’s one that feels like it could happen in your local woods! I highly recommend it. Apologies for the brevity and lateness of my review, I’ve had the flu. I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own. View all my reviews

Murder at Elm House by Helena Dixon My rating: 5 of 5 stars There are some authors, who write so well that, as soon as you start one of their books, you let out a sigh of relief and relaxation. Helena Dixon is one of those authors for me, so I was excited to receive an ARC of Murder at Elm House. This book contains all the things I love about this series. I enjoyed spending some more time with all my favourite characters - Kitty, Matt, and Alice especially. This story was set mostly in a convalescent home, which made a fun change. The plot was interesting, and I enjoyed trying to work out what was going on. I’d definitely recommend this book (and series) if you’re looking for a fun historical cozy crime. It has great characters, settings, and mysteries. Plus, who can resist those excellent covers? Apologies for the brevity, and any incoherence, I have the flu. I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own. View all my revi...

Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin My rating: 4 of 5 stars I enjoyed Umza Jalaluddin’s previous novel, Ayesha at Last, so much. I was thrilled to receive an ARC of Hana Khan Carries On. I was pulled into the story as soon as I began reading. I cared about Hana and her family right from the start. The writing just flows so well, I forgot I was even reading - something that is very rare for me. This story really packs a punch. Not only does it contain a delightful love story, but it also confronts some of the current issues, and it really hits home. I think it’s a wonderful tale of finding your feet when the world seems to be constantly shifting around you, and that it’s okay to seize your happiness, as well as caring about others. Overall, this was an emotional, but oh so satisfying, story. Recommended, but keep the tissues handy! Apologies for any incoherence in this review, and for it being a day late, I’ve got flu. I was given a free copy of t...

Sunrise by the Sea by Jenny Colgan My rating: 5 of 5 stars I’ve been a Jenny Colgan fan for more years than I can remember now, so I was thrilled to receive an ARC of Sunrise by the Sea. This is the fourth book in a much loved series, and I was so pleased not to be disappointed. It’s set a few years after the previous story, and focusses partly on a couple of new characters. When I started reading, I was absorbed immediately, and struggled to stop reading and orient myself in the real world when I had to do something else (eg eat a meal). Consequently, I finished it in less than 24 hours! I really enjoyed Marisa and Alexei’s stories, and the way they oh-so-slowly interwove, and came to understand each other better. I loved seeing lots of my favourite characters, and the lovely location, again. Basically, I loved everything. In short: Jenny Colgan has knocked it out of the park again. Enjoyable, warm romance. Just be warned, there are a few emotional ...

Always and Forever Glendale Hall by Victoria Walters My rating: 4 of 5 stars I have been enjoying the Glendale Hall series, written by Victoria Walters, since the very beginning, so I was pleased to receive an ARC of Always and Forever at Glendale Hall. It was wonderful to return to Glendale, and to check in with many much-loved characters. This book follows the story of Anna (Brodie’s sister), and Cameron. I really enjoyed this story, it was relaxing and easy to read. I liked the way that Anna gradually discovered that her take on her childhood was not quite right, and gained confidence in herself. I liked the way that she made her own decisions, and learned to accept help and friendship from others. I felt like this story ticks all the boxes: relaxing, romance, friendship, happy ending. What more could you want? If you’re looking for a lovely romance, with great character development, and a happy ending, pick this one! I was given a copy of this bo...